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THE FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE 


Stonewall Jackson 


ROY BIRD COOK / 
n 

Author of the Historical Serials : 

“Lewis County (W. Va.) in the Civil War,’* 
“Collins Settlement of Old,” “One Hum 
dred Years of Schools in Weston,” etc. 


1924 

OLD DOMINION PRESS, INC., PUBLISHERS 
109 GOVERNOR STREET 
RICHMOND, VA. 




HI 


'JIf C ^8 


Copyright 1924 
Old DominionSPress, Inc. 
Richmond, Virginia 


MAR 28 1924 




©ClA778815Cx 






TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Editor's Preface. 7 

Foreword . 9 

1. Chronology. 13 

II. Ancestry and Descendants. 16 

III. The Jackson Homestead—Jackson's Mills. 28 

IV. Childhood . 38 

V. The Boy at Jackson's Mills. 40 

VI. The Constable . 53 

VII. The Appointment at West Point. 58 

VIII. West Point . 66 

IX. Mexico and the Virginia Military Institute. 69 

X. Opening of the Civil War. 84 














■* ’ Vi' 1 ‘ ’" 

ZW (. . ■' - .^Ti * 



, . #;ut^tV r'^ > 










ILLUSTRATIONS 


Thomas Jonathan Jackson.frontispiece 

Jonathan Jackson..facing page 25 

House in which Jackson was born.page 26 

Colonel Edward Jackson's Home.page 29 

Jackson's Mills about 1843.page 31 

Jackson's Mills, 1920. page 42 

Receipt given by Jackson. page 54 

The Old Bailey Building.page 60 

Jackson in 1847.page 69 

Jackson in 1851.page 73 

A Letter of Jackson's.page 78 

The Cummins Jackson Home: The House in 
which Jackson died and Monument marking 
spot where he fell......page 94 















EDITOR’S PREFACE 


Stonewall Jackson, like many other great men, has 
been to a considerable extent the subject of legend. Thus, 
for instance, the impression has been left that he was 
reared in a wild and godless community and only became 
serious-minded and religious in later life. As a matter of 
fact, from early boyhood he was deeply interested in re¬ 
ligion. Again, the fable has been spread broadcast that 
he walked from his home in western Virginia to Washington 
in order to secure means to reach West Point, to which he 
had been appointed. Jackson was poor, but not so poor 
as this. 

It is the merit of Mr. Cook's little book that all the 
evidence bearing on the early life of Stonewall Jackson 
has been carefully sifted, so that the reader may be sure 
that what he finds bears the stamp of authentic history. 
Much new matter, garnered here and there, has been added: 
the result is that by far the most complete account of the 
youth of the great general is to be found in these pages. 
The notes on the Jackson family are also new and a most 
important contribution to the genealogy of famous Ameri¬ 
cans: they will be of interest to the many branches of the 
Scotch-Irish clan from which Stonewall Jackson derived 
his source. 


H. J. Eckenrode. 


I 









FOREWORD 


‘‘The most striking figure of the Civil War on the 
Southern side, Stonewall Jackson,'' writes James Ford 
Rhodes in his History of the United States, “has the fasci¬ 
nation of a character of romance. No characterization of 
him has fully satisfied his admirers. To some he seemed 
made up of contradictions, to others a rare consistency 
appears to run through his mature life." The cause for 
which he fought and died has long ago been overthrown, 
but the intervening years have but accentuated interest 
in the life of one who fought for the right, as he saw it, 
not only in the Confederacy but in the War with Mexico. 

Since the appearance of a little volume by Williamson 
in 1863, some eighteen or twenty biographies have issued 
from the press. That written by R. L. Dabney, some time 
major and Jackson's chief of staff, deserves special notice 
among the earlier works, the writer having had access to 
personal papers and manuscripts, and is very complete. 
Next in order comes the military biography by John Esten 
Cooke, a brilliant and prolific writer, which is still de¬ 
servedly popular. Life and Letters of Stonewall Jackson, 
written by his widow, admirably covers his private life 
from boyhood onward. The Life of General Thomas J. 
Jackson, by Sarah Nicholas Randolph; With Stonewall 
Jackson, by James Power Smith (the latest surviving mem¬ 
ber of his staff) ; Jackson's Valley Campaign, by William 
Allan, deserve passing mention: but of all the works con¬ 
fined solely to the subject, two demand especial attention, 
each being the best in its class. 

In 1898 appeared the first issue of Stonewall Jackson 
and the American Civil War, by the distinguished Brit¬ 
ish military critic and strategist, Lieutenant-Colonel G. 
F. R. Henderson. This work, in two volumes, is based 
upon years of research and study of official records. It 
portrays faithfully and accurately the military career of 
the great warrior whom fratricidal strife brought forth. 


10 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


and of whom the late Field Marshal, Viscount Wolseley, 
in the introduction wrote: 

That the true cause of the conflict was the antagonism between 
the spirit of Federalism and the theory of States rights, and that 
had he been a New Englander, he would have fought to the death 
to preserve the Union, while had he been born in Virginia he would 
have done as much for the defense of a right the South believed 
inalienable. The war thus brought about, dragged its weary way 
from the spring of 1861 until the same season of 1865. During its 
progress, reputations were made that will live forever in American 
history, and many remarkable men have come to the front. Among 
these, not the least prominent was ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, who to the 
renown of a great soldier and unselfish patriot was added the 
brighter fame of a Christian hero. 

In all of the first works on Jackson there is a noticeable 
lack of knowledge concerning his early life; such as is 
included is often inaccurate. This situation continued until 
1916, in which year appeared Early Life and Letters of 
Thomas J. Jackson, by his nephew, Thomas J. Arnold. As 
the name implies, it covers the period of life mentioned, 
which the author was well equipped to treat. It is concise, 
authentic, contains much original material, and has taken 
its place along with the book of Henderson as the best 
contribution to the literature on Jackson. 

Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Famous Men 
and Women, America in Romance, and a multitude of such 
books contain special articles. In the field of reference 
works the sketch in the Encyclopedia Americana takes first 
place; in many others the articles are badly prepared in 
so far as Jackson's early life is concerned. Several concur 
in the rather impossible statements that “Jackson served as 
sheriff of the county of Lewis," and “walked barefooted to 
Washington in search of an appointment to West Point." 

The errors are not confined to these sources, the public 
press often carrying similar misinformation. Conspicuous 
among such erroneous statements is the attributing by 
newspapers of a poem to Jackson that bears on the subject 
of “Mother." Perhaps no one living can say just who 
wrote it, yet the evidence indicates that it should probably 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 11 


be credited to Mrs. Margaret Junkin Preston, his sister- 
in-law. In the Clarksburg Telegram, in 1894, the following 
notation appeared, since reproduced in many sources: 
“Lieutenant Tom Jackson was presented with a sword of 
honor in the town of Weston, Lewis county, on his return 
from the Mexican War. It was to him and his numerous 
kinsmen present a proud and memorable occasion.” 

As a matter of historical fact, no such presentation 
took place. During the Mexican War Jackson carried an 
artillery saber, which is now in the possession of his 
nephew, Thomas J. Arnold. A dress sword used while at 
the Virginia Military Institute is in the Confederate 
Museum, at Richmond, presented by his grandchildren. It 
is a well-known fact that the sword he wore during the 
Civil War was lost when he was shot at Chancellorsville and 
was never found. 

It would seem, perhaps, that nothing of importance 
remained to be said about this distinguished son of the 
Monongahela Valley. Yet the author has collected a few 
notes concerning the subject covering points of the life of 
Jackson yet untreated: the family and homestead as con¬ 
nected with the region from which he came; and anecdotes 
that search has largely verified and that are worthy of 
preservation. There is still material to be obtained along 
this line in the interior of West Virginia, to be moulded 
into final shape by hands more capable than the writer; 
if this little volume brings forth more matter of the sort 
its mission will have been fulfilled. 

It would indeed be strange if, in spite of meticulous 
care, some error has not crept into these notes. Every 
effort has been put forth to secure authentic information. 
Thanks are due to many who loaned letters and papers as 
well as photographs for illustrations. Each one has con¬ 
tributed to a common undertaking—a little tribute to the 
memory of the “right arm” of such a great American as 
Robert E. Lee, to a man whose life and activities are a 
source of pride to all Americans, regardless of origin or 
of sympathies. 




The Family and Early Life 
of Stonewall Jackson 


CHAPTER I 

CHRONOLOGY 

1824—January 21, born in Clarksburg, (West) Virginia, 
third child of Jonathan and Julia Beckwith Neale 
Jackson. 

1826—March 26, Jonathan Jackson dies. 

1830— The mother, Julia Neale Jackson, marries (2) Blake 
B. Woodson, of Cumberland county, Va., and re¬ 
moves to present Fayette county, W. Va. 

Thomas (as named) Jackson finds a home with his 
step-grandmother, Mrs. Edward Jackson and fam¬ 
ily at Jackson's Mills, near Weston, (W.) Va. 

1831— September 4, Julia Neale Jackson Woodson dies at 
present Ansted, W. Va. 

1841— June 11, Thomas Jackson appointed a constable of 
Lewis county, (W.) Va. 

1842— June 18, conditionally appointed to West Point Mili¬ 
tary Academy from Weston, Lewis county, (W.) 
Va. Admitted July 1. 

1846— June 30, graduated from West Point with brevet 
rank of second lieutenant of artillery. 

1847— March 3, advanced to rank of second lieutenant, and 
on March 9 lands with Scott's army in Mexico. Ad¬ 
vanced to first lieutenant for gallant conduct in siege 
of Vera Cruz in March; to brevet rank of captain for 
conduct in battle of Contreras in August; and to 
brevet rank of major for heroic conduct at Chapul- 
tepec in September. 



14 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


1848—June, returns to United States from Mexico City 
with Scott's army and is stationed at Fort Hamilton, 
Long Island, N. Y. 

1850— Transferred with a command to Fort Meade, near 
Tampa, Fla., during Seminole troubles. 

1851— March, resigns from United States Army, to take 
effect in 1852 (U. S. Army Register); and is ap¬ 
pointed Professor of Artillery Tactics and Natural 
Philosophy at Virginia Military Institute, Lexing¬ 
ton, Va. 

1853—August 4, marries Eleanor Junkin, daughter of Rev. 
Dr. George Junkin, then president of Washington 
College at Lexington. In fall of 1854 his wife and 
infant child die. 

1856— Tours Europe. 

1857— July 16, marries (2) Mary Anna Morrison, daughter 
of Dr. Robert H. Morrison, of Lincoln county, N. C. 

1859—Takes company of cadets from V. M. I. to Harper's 
Ferry and to the execution of John Brown at Charles¬ 
town, (W.) Va. 

1861— April 21, leaves Lexington with cadets in opening 
of the Civil War. On April 27, appointed colonel 
of Virginia volunteers; assumes command at Har¬ 
per's Ferry, April 29; assigned to command of First 
Brigade in June; engages in skirmish at Falling 
Waters, July 2; commissioned brigadier-general, 
July 3, and leads First Brigade in first battle of 
Manassas, July 21; advanced to rank of major-gen¬ 
eral, October 7, and assigned to command of Shen¬ 
andoah Valley, November 4. 

1862— January 1, leaving Winchester, drives Federals from 
Romney across Potomac; does not believe himself 
properly supported and sends in resignation, January 
31. Recalls resignation and engages in battle of 
Kernstown, March 23; battle of McDowell, May 8; 
captures Front Royal, May 23; battle of Winchester, 
May 25; battle of Cross Keys, June 8; battle of Fort 




FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 15 


Republic, June 9. Marching toward Richmond, en¬ 
gages in battle of Gaines* Mill, June 27; battle of 
White Oak Swamp, June 30, and Malvern Hill, 
July 1. 

1862— Battle of Cedar Run, August 9; captures Manassas 
Junction, August 26; repulses Pope*s army, August 
29-30, at battle of Chantilly and Second Manassas; 
September 1, enters Maryland; marches from Fred¬ 
erick, capturing Harper*s Ferry, September 15; bat¬ 
tle of Sharpsburg, September 17; repulses enemy at 
Boteler*s Ford, September 20; encamps in Valley 
near Winchester, September 20-November 22; ad¬ 
vanced to lieutenant-general, October 11, and placed 
in command of Second Corps; November 22, marches 
toward Fredericksburg; battle of Fredericksburg, 
December 13; enters winter quarters at Moss Neck 
on Rappahannock, December 16.. 

1863— May 1, leads Second Corps around Hooker*s flank at 
battle of Chancellorsville, routing right wing of Fed¬ 
eral Army; is wounded and dies at Chandler*s, near 
Guinea Station, on May 10; buried at Lexington, Va. 



16 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


CHAPTER II 

ANCESTRY AND DESCENDANTS 

Among the people who have contributed markedly to 
the making of American character are those designated as 
the Scotch-Irish, generally regarded as the most aggressive 
strain that came to America in colonial times. The English 
were the first and main contributors to the population, 
however; those who could trace their lineage back to Scotia, 
with a residence in the north of Ireland, were largely forced 
to locate in the interior, to become frontiermen, to derive 
their living directly from the soil, leaving to their English 
brethren the more prominent occupations of law and poli¬ 
tics. Among the immigrants of the Scotch-Irish race, few, 
if any, were more prominent than the Jacksons. A strange 
analogy runs through their history to that in the times 
before they came to America, particularly evident in a 
strong inclination to participate in public life. They have 
produced few writers and artists, but many generals, poli¬ 
ticians and captains of industry. 

The beginning of the story of the Jackson family, so 
far as written records go, leads back into the province of 
Ulster, in the north of Ireland, and is closely allied with 
the history of the counties of Tyrone, Donegal, Antrim 
and Londonderry. The last named was originally Derry, 
but the title was changed by a charter granted by Charles 
II in 1662. At this time the Irish Society, of London, 
controlled Londonderry, Coleraine, with the fisheries, woods, 
ferriage and lands lying between the Lough Foyle and the 
rivers Royle and Bann. This society in turn sublet rights 
in this region to local officials, and this system may be said 
to have really established Protestant power in Ulster. In 
such manner the territory around Coleraine came into the 
hands of the Jacksons, and of them Robert Slade, Secretary 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 17 


of the “Society,” 1802, writes (see Scotch-Irish Pioneers, 
by Bolton) : 

Ambitious to acquire both property and power, they were 
often at odds with the authorities in London and were driven by 
these conditions to hold their territory at excessive rates imposed 
by the none too friendly London directors. In the year 1713, com¬ 
plaint was made that William Jackson had three uncles, who, with 
himself and tenants, were aldermen, so that six of the twelve 
aldermen of Coleraine obeyed his orders. Five of the twenty-four 
burgesses were his tenants, and Mr. Jackson desired to fill a vacancy 
with another tenant of his living twelve miles distant at Kilrea. 
This tenant was a brother of a burgess, and both were sons of an 
alderman. Thirteen members of the council (which included aider- 
men and burgesses) called upon the mayor for a judicial investiga¬ 
tion of the matter, but the mayor, who was a relative of Jackson’s, 
refused their request, although it was claimed to be made according 
to law. This was but the beginning of discord in the Bann Valley. 
In 1728 the Society expressed dissatisfaction with the Jackson 
family, which had opposed the political interests of the Society 
and had, through the control of the corporation of Coleraine, usurped 
the power to grant lands. The long arm which reached out from 
London had no sooner quieted Coleraine than Londonderry was in 
trouble for disregarding its by-laws. These controversies had prob¬ 
ably little influence upon the lot of the humble tenant, except along 
the Bann, where the Jackson sway was felt. It was ‘commonly 
reported’ that the Hon. Richard Jackson was forced to raise the 
rents of his tenants in order to meet his obligations, and that these 
tenants, near Coleraine, began agitation for the first great Scotch- 
Irish emigration to America. 

Something of the magnitude of this emigration may 
be understood when it is noted that 4,200 people left in 
1718; and after the famine of 1740, 12,000 left annually. 

The residence of Hon. Richard Jackson stood just west 
of the bridge over the river bank at Coleraine, on the road 
to Derry. Other roads radiated to Borough Castle of the 
Earl of Tyrone, about eight miles away; to Kilrea, twelve 
miles up the Bann river; to Antrim and Belfast to the 
south; and to Port Rush on the north. One standing on 
the bridge at Coleraine, at this day, will see in the beautiful 
view before him, on the left bank of the Bann, a very pretty 
mansion and grounds, still designated as “Jackson^s Hall.” 




18 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


In the neighborhood of Coleraine was born in 1719 
John Jackson, the first of the family of Lieutenant-General 
Thomas J. Jackson of whom we have any definite record. 
At the age of ten, his parents and two brothers joined 
one of the migrations from Port Rush, removing to London. 
From this point, in 1748, at the age of twenty-nine, he set 
out to seek his fortune in America. Others in the same 
family, settling in New Jersey, found their way into western 
Virginia in later years; still another line in the South 
produced Andrew Jackson of Tennessee. 

Arriving in the colony of Maryland, John Jackson 
located in Cecil county and here, in 1755, married Eliza¬ 
beth Cummins, born in 1720, who had been a fellow passen¬ 
ger on the trip from London. Three years later, in the 
spring of 1758, they removed to the south branch of the 
Potomac, settling in Pendleton, near the present Moorefield, 

^Tn the fall of the ensuing year (1768),'' relates Alex¬ 
in Hardy county, (W.) Va. 

ander Scott Withers in Chronicles of Border Warfare, 
‘'John Jackson (who was accompanied by his sons, George 
and Edward) settled at the mouth of Turkey Run, where 
his daughter, Mrs. [Josiah] Davis, now lives." This is the 
site long known as Jackson's Fort and present Buckhannon, 
W. Va. Large holdings of state lands were acquired in this 
region, and among them is a patent for 3,000 acres issued 
to Elizabeth Cummins Jackson, the fees being paid with 
English gold, a few guineas of which are still in the hands 
of descendants. 

The first county court of Randolph was held on May 
28, 1787. The records show that John Jackson was ap¬ 
pointed commissioner of revenue in 1787, and had been 
ordered into service as an Indian spy by Governor Henry 
Lee in 1786. He was made a justice of the peace, lieu¬ 
tenant of militia in 1787, and captain of militia in 1789. 

Later in life John Jackson and his wife removed to 
Clarksburg to live with their children; here he died, Sep- 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 19 


tember 25, 1804.* His wife survived until 1825. To John 
and Elizabeth Jackson were born eight children: 

1. GEORGE. Born in Cecil county, Maryland, Janu¬ 
ary 9, 1757, and died at Zanesville, Ohio, May 17, 1831. 
Married (1) Elizabeth Brake at Moorefield, November 13, 
1776, who was born February 22, 1757, and died March 22, 
1812; (2) Mrs. Nancy Richardson Adams, on November 
6, 1814. 

In 1779 he organized a band of Indian spies that did 
excellent service. Appointed a captain in 17,81, he recruited 
a company of 104 men to participate in the expedition of 
George Rogers Clark against Detroit, making a sensational 
journey with two guides into the wilderness of present 
Indiana. 

The first county court of Harrison county was held in 
his house on the Buckhannon River, June 29, 1784. George 
Jackson was recommended and appointed a justice of the 

* I, John Jackson, of Harrison county an^ State of Virginia, 
^ do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form fol¬ 
lowing, that is to say, I desire that a deed shall be made to my 
daughter, Sophia, for two hundred acres of land lying in Randolph 
county, on Brushy Run, joining Joseph Hall’s land on the west side, 
including Frank’s lick. Secondly, I give to my granddaughter, 
Elizabeth Reager, two hundred acres of land lying in Randolph 
county, on the west side of Buckhannon River, and on the south 
side of a line running between the waters of Turkey Run, and two 
small runs, one known by the name of Long Bridge Run, and the 
other by the Rich Knob Lick Run, including the mouths of both. 
It is also my desire that the above described tract of land shall 
remain in the hands of her father until she becomes of age or mar¬ 
ries. It is to be understood that in case she should die previous to 
either these events, the land to fall to her father. Thirdly, I give 
to my wife, Elizabeth, all the residue of my estate, real and per¬ 
sonal, of whatsoever nature it may be, to be disposed of as she 
may think proper. And lastly, I do hereby constitute my son, George, 
executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I 
have hereunto set my hand, affixed my seal, this twenty-second day 
of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred 
and one. John Jackson ( ) 

Signed, sealed, published and declared as and for the last will 
and testament of the above named John Jackson in presence of 

John G. Jackson 
William Williams. 

Recorded in Will Book No. 1, page 133. 





20 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


peace, and as such a member of the county court*; he was a 
member of the Virginia assembly, 1786-1790; a member 
of the Virginia convention that adopted the Constitution 
of the United States, 1788; and a member of the Fourth, 
Sixth and Seventh Congresses; founder of ‘‘Collins Settle¬ 
ment'' in present Lewis county, and a member of the Ohio 
legislature. Altogether, he was a man of great activity 
and prominence—a soldier and politician. 

Early in March, 1782, Indians appeared in the Buck- 
hannon valley and some of the people were murdered with¬ 
out warning. Captain White, “the lion in the defense of 
the settlement in the absence of George Jackson," was 
killed in plain view of the fort. Soon after, George Jackson 
is said to have run all the way from present Buckhannon 
to Clarksburg in the night for help and arrived in time to 
repel an invasion. These are merely high marks in the 
efforts of this man to take care of the people of that day. 
George Jackson fostered efforts to start schools and was a 
trustee of Randolph Academy in 1795. 

Ability was not limited to the second generation, how¬ 
ever, and of George Jackson's fourteen children by his two 
marriages several became distinguished. Edward Brake 
(1793-1826) served in the Virginia assembly. War of 1812, 
the Seventeenth Congress, was elected to the Eighteenth 
and resigned. John George (1774-1825) served in the Vir¬ 
ginia house of burgesses, the Eighth Congress and five 
succeeding Congresses; was brigadier general of militia and 
judge of the United States District Court. He married 

(1) Mary Payne, sister of Dolly Payne Todd Madison, and 

(2) Mary Meigs, daughter of Return Jonathan Meigs. 
George Washington served in the army and will be noted 
later. Prudence (1789-1855) married Elijah Arnold, 
founder of the Arnold line in Lewis county. 

Other members of this line were scarcely less distin¬ 
guished. William L. (Jr.) served as lieutenant-governor 
of Virginia, 1856-8; was a member of Stonewall Jackson's 
staff, commander of a cavalry brigade and judge of the 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 21 


superior court in Virginia and Kentucky. John J., Jr., 
served as a United States district judge. James Monroe 
was a member of the Fifty-first Congress, and Jacob Beeson 
was governor of West Virginia. Many others were 
prominent. 

2. EDWARD. (See further.) 

3. JOHN, JR. Born 1760, died 1821; married (1) 
Rebecca Hadden, April 10, 1786, and (2) Elizabeth Cozad 
in 1799 in Harrison county. His will probated on May 24, 
1821, is of record in Lewis county, and mentions children: 
Edward, Jacob, Samuel, George, William W., Sarah, Mary, 
Elizabeth and Rebecca. Personal property was owned to 
the value of $1,811.24, including six slaves. 

4. SAMUEL. Married Barbara Reger (sister of 
Philip) and removed to near Terra Haute, Ind. A daughter 
‘‘Polly'' married Leonard Brake, September 3, 1823. 

5. HENRY. Married (1) Mary Hyer (issue Hyer 
Jackson, eminent jurist of Texas), and (2) Elizabeth 
Shreve. He became county surveyor, Randolph county, 
1793, and had charge of the Banks Survey. 

6. ELIZABETH. Married Abraham Brake. 

7. MARY SARAH. Married in 1788 Philip Reger, 
who served as ensign in the Virginia militia in the York- 
town campaign, and subsequently became first sheriff of 
Lewis county. 

8. SOPHIA. Married Josiah Davis. 

EDWARD JACKSON, second son of John and Eliza¬ 
beth Cummins Jackson, was born March 1, 1759, and died 
at Jackson's Mills, December 25, 1828. The minutes of the 
first county court of Randolph county. May 28, 1787, contain 
the following entry: “That Edward Jackson be recom¬ 
mended to the governor as a proper person to fill the office 
of surveyor, he being of probity and good character." He 
was appointed a justice of Randolph, May 29, 1787, and as 
such a member of the county court; captain and colonel of 
militia, 1787; commissioner of the revenue, 1791; high 



22 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


sheriff, 1792; and also served as a justice in Harrison 
county. 

About 1801, Edward Jackson removed his family from 
present Buckhannon to the homestead located below Wes¬ 
ton, where he resided until his death. He acquired some 
knowledge of medicine, was an expert millwright, and a 
farmer of more than usual ability. He did much of the 
local surveying work; laid out the site of the town of 
Weston, and was appointed a commissioner to construct a 
court house for Lewis county, November 4, 1819. In 1820 
he was appointed a justice of the peace and represented 
Lewis county in the Virginia assembly in 1822-23. 

On October 13, 1783, he married Mary Hadden, born 
May 15, 1764 and died April 17, 1796, a daughter of David 
Hadden, who had removed from New Jersey to Randolph 
county in 1772. To this union were born: 

1. George E., born December 23, 1786, died March 
26, 1831; removed to St. Genevieve county. Mo., in 
1821. 

2. David E., born October 30, 1788; married 
Juliet Norris in 1812. Issue: Mary (1813-1900), who 
married John H. Hays; Edward J. (1810-1896) ; Nancy 
and William Pitt. Served as ensign in the Nineteenth 
Infantry, U. S. A., 1813-14. 

3. Jonathan, born September 25, 1790; died 
March 25, 1826. 

4. Rachel, born July 8, 1792; married Jacob 
Brake in 1815.* 


* Mr. J. L. Brake, of Henrietta, Calhoun county, W. Va., 
writes under date of July 7, 1923: 

“I am the son of Leonard J. Brake, a first cousin of Stonewall 
Jackson and a son of Jacob Brake and Rachel Jackson. Rachel 
Jackson was a sister of General Jackson’s father. 

“We have an old dictionary which belonged to my grandfather, 
Jacob Brake. In it is a partial family record from which I take 
the following: 

“ ‘Jacob Brake, born August 1, 1785. Married Rachel Jackson, 
September 10, 1815, who was born in 1792. To this union were born 
ten children: (1) Edward H.; (2) George W.; (3) Rachel; (4) 
Leonard J.; (5) Mary; (6) Jacob L.; (7) Catherine; (8) Rebecca: 
(9) David J.; (10) Eliza.’ 

“All of these are dead. I was born March 16, 1840, and would 
like to know more of my father’s family than I do.” 





FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 23 


5. Mary (Polly) Hadden, born February 19, 
1794; died August 30, 1840; married November 30, 
1820, Isaac Brake, who was born November 16, 1797; 
died January 17, 1885, near Buckhannon, W. Va. 
Issue: Rachel Elizabeth, born January 4, 1822, died 
November 28, 1883; Edward Stalnaker, born February 
20, 1823, died in infancy; Jacob, Jr., born October 10, 
1824, died in infancy; Melville Shook, born August 6, 
1826, died October 14, 1898; Diademma, born July 20, 
1828, died September 12, 1904; Oliva, born September 
7, 1830, died February 19, 1914; Mary Virginia, born 
October 5, 1837, died March 9, 1862; and Isaac New¬ 
ton, born August 30, 1840. 

6. Rebecca, born September 15, 1795; died July 
18, 1889. Married George White in 1811 and removed 
to Pawn Creek (Belleville), Wood county. To this 
union were born eleven children, among whom were 
Benton and Jackson, who settled near Columbus, O. 

On October 13, 1799, Edward Jackson married (2) 
Elizabeth, daughter of John (1754-1838) and Elizabeth 
Wetherholt Brake, who was born January 11, 1772, and 
died August 19, 1835. 

Issue: 

1. Katherine (‘‘Caty”)> born July 25, 1800, and died 
December 3, 1876. On January 25, 1824, she married 
John White, son of Alexander White, a soldier of the 
Revolution from New Jersey. 

Issue: 

Fortunas, born November 2, 1824; died July 
31, 1901; married Lucy Gibson, December 9, 1847. 
Sylvanus, born January 15, 1827; died November 
29, 1911; married Malinda Henderson, April 21, 
1853. Marcellus, born March 17, 1829; died June 
2, 1897; married Flora Gibson, December 25, 
1856. George Edward, born August 17, 1831; died 
June 9, 1902; married Alice Fetty. Marellah, born 
February 2, 1834; died July, 1874; married Jacob 



24 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


Rohrbough, July 15, 1865. William Pitt, born 
August 15, 1836; removed to California, March, 
1857; married Prudence Strader, December 31, 
1854. Alexander Perry, born October 13, 1838; 
married (1) Mary Petty, (2) Lovie Ireland, 
March, 1899. John McDowell, born February 18, 
1841; died June 16, 1882 (killed by a falling tree) ; 
married Sarah Woofter, 1865. 

2. Cummins E., born July 25, 1802; died in Shasta 
county, California, December 4, 1849. 

3. James Madison, born April 3, 1805; died October 
27, 1872; married (1) Eleanor Law, December 4, 1836, 
who died December 27, 1850. 

Issue: 

Margaret, who married Gaston Greathouse; 
Mary E., who married John Cunningham; Stokley 
R., born 1839, died 1906, married Mrs. Eliza Curry 
Armstrong; Nancy Elizabeth, born 1843, died 
1922, married David J., son of John H. and Mary 
Jackson Hays, who was born 1835, died 1898; 
Edward T., born August 4, 1848, married Julia 
A. Brake, February 19, 1874. 

Married December 30, 1851, (2) Susan Ann Bailey, 
who died 1879. 

4. Elizabeth (Eliza), born April 6, 1807; died Feb¬ 
ruary 22, 1849; married Nicholas Carpenter, July 3, 
1830, and removed to near Mt. Vernon, Indiana. 

5. John E., born January 22, 1810; died July 18, 
1875; married Sarah Byrne and removed to Missouri. 

6. Margaret (Peggy), born February 2, 1812; mar¬ 
ried Jonathan Thompson Hall, March 7, 1833. 

7. Return Meigs, born March 15, 1814; died July 6, 
1835, at St. Genevieve, Mo. It is related that he died 
from the result of a standing jump to his own height, 
six feet. 

8. Edward J., born October 29, 1817; died October 
21, 1848. 






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Jonathan Jackson, 
father of General Jackson. 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 25 


9. Andrew, born March 16, 1821; died October 31, 

1867; married Mary Dean and removed to Indiana. 

Later returned to Lewis county and died on Hughes 

River. 

(2) JONATHAN JACKSON, the third son of Edward 
and Mary Hadden Jackson, was born in Randolph county 
(now Upshur), September 25, 1790. He was educated at 
the Randolph Academy in Clarksburg and the old Male 
Academy at Parkersburg, later taking up the study of law 
under his cousin. Judge John G. Jackson, of Clarksburg. 
He was admitted to the bar in Harrison county in De¬ 
cember, 1810; Randolph county in 1813, and Lewis county 
at the first county court held at Westfield, just below Jack- 
son's Mills, in 1817. Jonathan served as collector of internal 
revenue and by 1813 was recognized as one of the most 
promising and successful lawyers in Clarksburg. 

In 1818 he married Julia Beckwith Neale, a school 
acquaintance, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Winn 
Neale, of Parkersburg. Margaret Winn Neale was a daugh¬ 
ter of Minor Winn, who resided on the west side of Bull 
Run Mountain, Virginia. Thomas Neale was a son of 
Richard Neale, of Westmoreland county and Loudoun 
county, Virginia, and a descendant of Daniel Neale or 
O'Neale, immigrant from Ireland, in 1649, to Northumber¬ 
land county, Virginia. Thomas Neale, with his brothers, 
George, William, Richard and James, removed to Wood 
county about 1798 and founded Neale's Station, now a 
part of the city of Parkersburg. Among his eleven chil¬ 
dren were Alfred, William, Harriet, Julia, Thornton and 
Minor Neale. 

Jonathan and Julia Neale Jackson had issue: 

1. Elizabeth, born 1819, died March 5, 1826. 

2. Warren, born January, 1821, died November, 1841, 
on Turkey Run, Upshur county, (W.) Va. 

3. Thomas. (See 3.) 

4. Laura Ann, born March 27, 1826, died September 
24, 1911; married Jonathan Arnold in September, 1844. 



26 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


Issue : 

Hon. Thomas J. Arnold, late collector of the port of 
San Diego and author of Early Life and Letters of Gen¬ 
eral Thomas J. Jackson, who married, in 1876, Eugenia, 
daughter of Lieutenant-General D. H. Hill, C. S. A. ; 
Stark, born 1851, died 1898, married in 1880 Elizabeth 
Gohen; and Anna Grace, who married C. H. Evans. 

Jonathan Jackson died March 26, 1826,t leaving the 
young widow with three children; every vestige of his prop¬ 
erty was swept away. In 1830$ she married (2) Blake 
B. Woodson, of Cumberland county, Virginia, then located 
in Clarksburg in the practice of law. When Fayette county 
was formed, through the influence of Judge Edwin S. Dun¬ 
can, he was appointed clerk of court. To this union was 
born, in 1831, one child, Wirt, who died after the Civil 
War, near Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Within a year the children 
were called to their mother's bedside; and today the visitor 
to her tomb near Ansted, West Virginia, reads: 

Here lies Julia Beckwith Neale, 
born February 29, 1798, in Loudoun Co., Va. 

Married first, Jonathan Jackson; 

Second, Blake B. Woodson. 

Died Sept. 4, 1831. 

To the mother of “Stonewall” Jackson 
This tribute from one of his old Brigade. 

(3) THOMAS (JONATHAN), the third child of Jona¬ 
than and Julia Neale Jackson, was born in Clarksburg, 
(W.) Virginia, January 21, 1824, and died near Guinea 
Station, Virginia, May 10, 1863. He married (1) Eleanor 
Junkin, daughter of Rev. George Junkin, president of 
Washington College, at Lexington, Virginia, August 4, 1853, 
who died in the fall of 1854. On July 16, 1857, he married 

t Edward Jackson was appointed administrator of estate of 
Jonathan Jackson on April 19, 1826.—From records of County 
Court of Harrison couni^. This proves that Jonathan Jackson died 
in 1826 instead of 1827, as usually given. 

t Blake B. Woodson and Julia B. Jackson were married No¬ 
vember 4, 1830, by Daniel Limerick.—From records of County 
Court of Harrison county. 





House in Which General Jackson Was Born. (Main Street, 

Clarksburg, (W.) Va.) 




I 


























































































FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 27 


(2) Mary Anna Morrison, daughter of Dr. R. H. Morrison, 
of Lincoln county, N. C., who was born July 21, 1832, and 
died March 24, 1915. To this union were born: 

1. Mary Graham, born February 28, 1858, died May 
25, 1858. 

2. Julia Laura. (See 4.) 

(4) JULIA LAURA (THOMAS) JACKSON, born 
November 23, 1862, died August 30, 1889; married Wil¬ 
liam Edmund Christian, of Richmond, Va., June 2, 1885. 

Issue: 

1. Julia Jackson, born June 5, 1887; married Ed¬ 
mund Randolph Preston, of Lexington, Va., August 
8, 1907. 

Issue : 

John Randolph, born July 25, 1908, died Au¬ 
gust 14, 1909; Anna Jackson, August 2, 1910; 
Elizabeth Cortlandt, January 9, 1914; and Julia, 
October 9, 1919. 

2. Thomas J. Jackson, born August 29, 1888; mar¬ 
ried Bertha Cook, daughter of Captain Cook, U. S. A., 
in 1914. 

Issue: 

Thomas J. Jackson, 1916; and Peggy, 1919. 
Thomas Jackson Christian was appointed a cadet 
at West Point by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, 
graduating in 1910; advanced from lieutenant to 
captain; served through the World War, ad¬ 
vancing from captain to lieutenant-colonel, and is 
at present instructor in military tactics at Cor¬ 
nell University. It may not be out of place to 
state here that in 1921 a splendid statue of Gen¬ 
eral Jackson was unveiled at Charlottesville, Va., 
by two little great-grandchildren, Thomas Jack- 
son Christian, Jr., and Anna Jackson Preston. 



28 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


I 

CHAPTER III 

THE JACKSON HOMESTEAD^JACKSON’S MILLS 

Three miles directly north of the city of Weston, in 
Lewis county, West Virginia, the west fork of the Monon- 
gahela River, at an altitude of 1,000 feet and a half mile 
below the mouth of Freeman's Creek, suddenly swerves 
to the east and, after traveling a quarter of a mile, swings 
back to the northwest, creating a peninsula of some pro¬ 
portions in a vast horseshoe curve. Wide bottom land for 
the first time marks the downward path of the river near 
the mouth of the tributary. Freeman's Creek; precipitous 
heights to the east rise to 1,200 feet, and on the west 
gradually ascend to a height of 1,300 feet. Like some giant 
thumb stuck out in the path of the stream, this peninsula 
could not escape attention, and it would indeed be hard to 
find a more suitable location for a home in the entire Mo- 
nongahela valley. Here Edward Jackson, in the beginning 
of the nineteenth century, decided to make his home. 

The origin of his title is somewhat obscure; it has been 
set forth in various works that Edward Jackson patented 
1,500 acres in this region, but as a matter of fact no such 
patent is of record. Yet to him was issued, from 1787 
until 1801, six grants of lands, in all 10,418 acres, located 
on Elk, Glady and Cove Creeks, on Glady Fork of Little 
Kanawha (as assignee of Henry Banks, June 12, 1801) ; 
and on Tygart's Valley River. 

From the records of the county court of Lewis it ap¬ 
pears that in 1801 Edward Jackson acquired a land grant 
of 500 acres, issued to George See, on April 16, 1788. An 
examination of the Virginia records in the land office dis¬ 
closes only one grant in the then Harrison county to George 
See, and that in 1788 for 218 acres ‘‘on the waters of 
Tygars Valley River." 












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Colonel Edward Jackson’s Home, at Jackson’s Mills, About 1837 . 

Boyhood Home of Stonewall Jackson. 




































































































FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 29 


Adjoining the See patent to the north was a patent to 
James Keith, of Hampshire county, and this was trans¬ 
ferred on May 15, 1802, by Aleson Clark, D. S., Harrison 
county, to Mary Sleeth, who in turn sold to Edward Jack- 
son. In April, 1823, the latter conveyed land adjoining 
“Jackson's Mills" to his grandchildren, Edward, William 
Pitt, Mary and Nancy, children of David E. Jackson. Title 
to the homestead was held clear until November 3, 1820, 
when, in a chancery case of William L. Jackson, of Har¬ 
rison county, against “Edward Jackson, David W. Sleeth 
and George White, his sureties on a forthcoming bond in 
the name of John White for the use of the Ohio Company," 
the property was transferred to William L. Jackson, Sr. 
This was done to protect Edward Brake Jackson, who 
agreed to assume the payment of $1,800 due on the bond 
named, and the property included “one tract of 500 acres 
including Jackson's Mills" and the following slaves: Nancy, 
Sampson, Lamar, Cecelia, Meria, Aaron, Lucy, Sam, 
Louisa and Lucy. 

In the subsequent litigation, and following the death of 
Colonel Edward Jackson, who left no will, the property was 
sold by the United States marshal according to a decree 
of court and was bid in by Cummins E. Jackson. On 
August 26, 1830, he in turn transferred it to John J. Allen, 
a son-in-law of John G. Jackson. The deed specifies a tract 
of land situated in Lewis county, on the east side of the 
West Fork River, and “also that other tract of land situated 
on the west side of said river and opposite to the foregoing 
tract, being a tract of land on which the said Cummins E. 
Jackson resides, on which there is a mill, being the same 
land formerly occupied by Edward Jackson." And which 
was sold under a decree of the superior court of law and 
chancery, “and being the tract of land originally patented 
by George See, and by him sold to Edward Jackson." 

It seems that within a short time John J. Allen 
reconveyed the homestead to Cummins Jackson and that 
Elizabeth Jackson, the widow of Colonel Edward Jackson, 




30 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


acquired an interest in it. In November, 1835, James 
Madison Jackson qualified as the personal representative 
of Elizabeth Jackson and also as administrator of the estate 
of Return Meigs Jackson, with Edward J. Jackson as 
surety. 

George Oliver in the Weston Democrat (1892) says: 

In 1844 the old Jackson Mill property was owned by Cummins 
E. Jackson. He supplied Weston with a great quantity of lumber 
for building purposes. I have been informed that he owned some 
1,500 acres in connection with the mill property lying on both 
sides of the West Fork. 

Cummins Jackson patented in this same year 551 acres 
on Outright Run and 570 acres on Jaw Bone Run. In 1838 
he patented 612 acres on the West Fork, 200 acres on Free¬ 
man's Creek, and 500 acres on Coal Lick. 

In the spring of 1849 Cummins Jackson and others 
left for California, attracted there by the gold fields. Few 
people now living can appreciate the attraction this offered 
to Eastern folk. Whole companies of men left sections of 
the Valley of Virginia, and in the interior the exodus was 
only marked by the smaller numbers. Sylvanus White, 
writing to Thomas Jackson Arnold from California, under 
date of July 4,1911, says of the party from around Weston: 

I will now give you the names of the little party that left 
Virginia, the first of April, 1849, bound for California. The third 
day of April we left my father’s (John White’s on Freeman’s Creek). 
In the party were Cummins E. Jackson, Edward J. Jackson (son of 
David), Calvin J. Brown, myself and brother, George E. White, all 
of Lewis county; James T. Jackson (at the time) of Parkersburg, 
Jonathan Ireland and John Gipson of Upshur county; White Vine¬ 
yard and Griffin Vineyard from Randolph county; the latter later 
joined another train. (These were grandnephews of Colonel Ed¬ 
ward Jackson’s first wife, Mary Hadden.) Then from Gilmer county 
we had Shelton Furr, Othello Hays, Samuel Covert, William Queen 
and Morgan Queen. 

This company arrived in California some time in July, 
1849, and the colony was soon augmented by the arrival 
of others. Many in later years returned East and others 
founded families still to be found on the Pacific coast. 
Cummins E. Jackson, however, only lived a few months. 





t 




Jackson’s Mills, Near Weston, (W.) Va., About 1843. 










FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JAdKSON 31 


dying of a fever contracted in the gold camps in December 
of the same year. The news did not reach Weston/until 
in February of 1850, and after some delay, due to absence 
of proof of death, etc., the Jackson’s Mills property was 
subdivided among his heirs, he, it seems, having died with¬ 
out a will. 

On March 5,1866, Andrew Jackson and Mary, his wife, 
executed a deed of trust to David J. Hays, conveying “all 
real estate descended to said Jackson on the death of Cum¬ 
mins E. Jackson or Edward Jackson direct.” 

James Madison Jackson, on October 3, 1868, trans¬ 
ferred to Stokely R. Jackson ninety-six acres, part of “the 
old Cummins E. Jackson Mill property.” The mill property 
had in the meantime passed into the possession of Kath¬ 
erine Jackson White (Mrs. John White) and was trans¬ 
ferred to William and Huldah Moxley, owners of the Moxley 
House in Weston. 

On March 31, 1886, William E. Arnold, commissioner 
in a chancery case of “Marcellus White, administrator 
of Katherine White, deceased, vs. Huldah and Wm. Mox¬ 
ley,” sold Jackson’s Mills property, together with five acres 
of land, to Joseph Clifton for $1,300. On November 5, 
1913, this five-acre tract with the buildings thereon was 
sold by Miss Ella Clifton to A. T. Watson, acting for the 
Monongahela Valley Traction Company, for $4,000, and 
was by this corporation donated to the state of West Vir¬ 
ginia in 1922. 

Additional property was then acquired and donated 
by public-spirited people of the city of Weston and Lewis 
county. Under the direction of the state of West Virginia 
it has been converted into a beautiful park, known as 

The illustration facing is from a painting by E. E. Myers, head 
of the Department of Art, Marshall College, Huntington, W. Va. 
This is based on actual study on the ground, old engineering maps 
and prints. The Cummins Jackson house for some years had no 
porch, the original being removed, and then replaced in 1886. The 
site is now occupied by Stonewall Jackson Park. This picture is 
the best ever made of this old home place and is the work of an 
artist widely and favorably known. 




32 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


‘'Stonewall Jackson Park.” Here has been founded the first 
unit in a great national movement, known as the 4-H Pro¬ 
ject, devoted to the upbuilding of boys and girls in health, 
head, heart and hands. What more fitting purpose could be 
served than the creation of Christian citizenship as a memo¬ 
rial to the boy who, with his motto, “You can be whatever 
you resolve to be,” spent his youth at this spot and from 
here jode away to national and international fame as a man 
and a warrior? 

Parts of the original homestead are still in the hands 
of members of the family, being owned by the Hays heirs, 
Edward J. and Byron Stonewall Jackson. 

Colonel Edward Jackson in 1801 erected, on the north 
bank of the river bend and facing the broad bottom land 
directly south, a two-story, hewn-log manor house with 
an ell. It was about twenty feet by forty without the wing, 
quite well constructed, nicely finished inside and considered 
among the best in the community in that day. This home 
was occupied by the family until some years after the death 
of the widow of Edward Jackson, at which time portions 
were used in the erection of other farm buildings. The 
site can still be discerned about three hundred feet west 
of the location of the late Cummins Jackson house, on a 
rise in an open place among the old apple trees of the family 
orchard on the county road. This home, rather than that 
remembered by later generations and depicted in pictures, 
is the one in which Stonewall Jackson spent his boyhood 
days, and was dismantled about 1843. 

In 1808 an eight-foot dam was constructed in the river 
for the purpose of supplying power for a saw mill and a 
grist mill. In or near that year machinery was brought 
from one of the earlier mills of the Jacksons near Clarks¬ 
burg and installed in a log building constructed on the 
east shore (opposite the present mill). Constant trouble 
was encountered; the bend in the river threw the current 
against that side and the erosion caused the building partly 
to slide into the river bed. To this day a slide area of 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 33 


some proportions still exists on this side and gives trouble 
to the road-makers and traction lines. With the establish¬ 
ment of this mill the place became Jackson's Mills, and 
was the scene of constant activity thereafter for over forty 
years. 

At a time precisely undetermined but prior to 1830, 
the foundation timbers and machinery were removed to 
the opposite side of the river. Here they were housed in a 
building, a combination of hand-hewn lumber and lumber 
sawn in the mill just above. The wife of a distinguished 
local resident, born in 1834, relates that the first mill 
building on the present site burned when she was but a 
small child, and the present building was erected thereupon. 
An old print examined by the writer bears the notation 
‘‘Jackson's Mills, 1837," which would seem to indicate that 
the building still standing was erected in that year. The 
material of which it is constructed is largely sawn by 
machine; the building is 40 x 40 feet, two and a half stories 
in height, with a native stone foundation. An indication 
of the quality of the timber that once abounded in the com¬ 
munity is shown by the hand-hewn beams, which are of 
poplar, sixteen inches square, forty feet long and free 
from imperfection. The building contained two flour mills, 
two bolting machines, burrs for corn and other grain. 
Power was supplied by two wheels located under the mill, 
and operating horizontally, rather than the open overshot 
wheel as depicted by early artists. During the Civil War 
parties of Federal troops damaged the machinery and, like 
countless people since, carried away “relics," attracted to 
the scene because it was the boyhood home of a Confederate 
chieftain whose moves were on every tongue on both sides 
during his military career. 

Thirty feet above the mill building, on a line with 
the dam, stood a one-story building until after 1873, with 
roof sloping like the grist mill; this housed the saw mill. 
Below these two buildings, on the road to the ford in the 
river, stood a carpenter and blacksmith shop and the barn. 



34 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


For a time a store was conducted nearby, and the place 
was a little self-contained community. 

In the early forties (perhaps 1843, although one mem¬ 
ber of the family says it was new in 1848) Cummins Jackson 
erected a larger and more pretentious house on the north 
side of the river in the apex of the curve. It was a two- 
story frame building, in the shape of an ell with equal 
sides, with five windows in each side. It had no porch and 
commanded a view for some distance up and down the 
river. Stonewall Jackson probably, indeed in all likelihood, 
spent his vacations from West Point and his later visits 
in this home. As already noted, it was not his early home 
place. It was used as a residence by some member of the 
family for the greater portion of the time until the opening 
of the Civil War, although it had periods of vacancy even 
in that early day. 

Cummins Jackson departed for the gold fields of Cali¬ 
fornia in 1849, and for the next four decades the home 
place went through a period in which it was often deserted 
for years at a time. The Jackson house was leased to others; 
the mill was operated at intermittent periods by Trow¬ 
bridges, Whites, James Madison and Andrew Jackson, the 
latter's connection with it ceasing about 1867. 

Under such circumstances it became simply a rambling 
deserted home place; the old mill building was the ren¬ 
dezvous for ghosts and the alleged scene for the basis of 
the novelette. Black Beelzebub, and other stories. Barney 
Hamback, a worker in the mill, had lost his life in an un¬ 
fortunate affair in earlier years, and the superstitious be¬ 
lieved that certain mysterious sounds did not cease until 
the iron bar from a bolting mill with which he had been 
struck had been made into horseshoes. In the late forties 
a deputy United States marshal named Thorp appeared at 
the mills with a legal paper to serve on a local resident, 
who escaped by what seems a dangerous feat of jumping 
in the river from a window in the rear of the mill and 
swimming across; later he performed a similar feat by 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 35 


escaping under the waterfall created by the dam. This 
man eluded pursuit by taking refuge in the old Jackson 
house. A negro slave girl, passing in the road, screamed 
when intercepted, detracting attention momentarily from 
him. Finally, the fugitive was taken to the clerk's office 
of the court house in Weston to execute bond for appear¬ 
ance, when he suddenly pulled a pistol from beneath his 
shirt, backed out of the door in the face of his surprised 
captors, mounted a horse and left the community. 

Back in the mills, in the hills to the west, is the alleged 
lost Barrett lead lode, for which more than one searching 
party has sought in order to discover the origin of metal 
used for purposes legitimate and illegitimate. 

After the purchase of the homestead in 1886 by Joseph 
Clifton, the mill and the Jackson house were repaired. The 
windows had long been broken out and little sycamore trees 
had taken root in the accumulated debris on the floors. 
The mortar had fallen from the chimney and under the 
hearthstones were found a number of old Spanish silver 
pieces. The stairway, if ever there had been one, was 
gone, and access to the second floor was secured by a ladder 
arrangement on the wall. One end of the basement was 
sub-divided by a native stone wall, which created a small 
room six feet by sixteen. In blasting a stone for steps 
for the house, several fossilized nuts resembling pecans 
were found embedded therein; these are still in the hands 
of the late owners. A porch was constructed on the two 
sides next to the road, the puncheon floors in the kitchen 
annex were replaced, and the place again became habitable. 
This is the house shown in all the pictures of the ‘‘Boy¬ 
hood Home of General Stonewall Jackson." 

When it was announced that the mill pond would be 
drained and the mill race repaired, folk of the neighborhood 
recalled that in 1867 a local resident had died in another 
county. On his death-bed he was constantly talking of a 
“box buried in a stream or drain," and his words were 
supposed to have reference to something buried near the 



36 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


mill. The result was that a number of people appeared 
on the scene, and, when the water was let out, the bed of 
the river was examined with pitchforks, bare feet and 
other means for several hundred yards up and down, but to 
no avail. After a period of operation running into the 
nineties, the mill was again closed. Floating logs in the 
river in timber runs did much damage to the property. 
For a number of years the mill and the house as well were 
simply used as a storage place; in the meantime several 
attempts by patriotic organizations to buy and preserve 
the homestead failed. 

The visitor to the home of Jackson’s boyhood finds 
the scene greatly changed from the days ‘‘before the war.” 
The old mill stands a silent sentinel at the river’s edge, 
rising like a great white phantom of the past, as is so well 
expressed in the words of Camden Sommers: 

A shell, naught more, the old mill stood. 

Grim jest of passing winters’ snows; 

Gruesome it stays, bathed in blood, 

Filched where the big red moon arose, 

A wreck of time—thus each thing goes; 

All around the landmarks are falling— 

That’s life—the new is always calling. 

Above the old mill pond now passes an artistic concrete 
bridge replacing the ford in the river below. The dam and 
mill race have ceased to exist, leaving only tumbled stones 
and decaying timbers to mark their place. 

On a rise along the river near the junction of the 
Lightburn road is located the old Jackson burying ground, 
surrounded by a neat iron fence. Here one reads on the 
markers the names of “John Brake”; “Colonel Edward 
Jackson, and Elizabeth Jackson, consort of Colonel Edward 
Jackson.” Nearby are those of “James M. Jackson” and 
“Susan Ann, wife of James M. Jackson”; “Edward J., son 
of David and Juliet Jackson”; “Edward Jackson and Mary 
Jackson, wife of John H. Hays,” and several others of the 
Jackson and Hays families. 




■ FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 37 


The old manor house with its widespread porch, 
through negligence, went the way of Blennerhassett's man¬ 
sion and other historic structures by fire in May, 1915. On 
its site stands a block of granite, four feet eight inches 
high, weighing about twenty tons, bearing a bronze tablet 
on which one reads: 

This tablet marks the site of the boyhood home 
of General T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson, a soldier of 
great military genius and renown, a man of resolute, 
pure Christian character. Died May 10, 1863, of 
wounds received at the battle of Chancellorsville, Vir¬ 
ginia. 





38 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


CHAPTER IV 

CHILDHOOD 

It is a far cry from Main Street in the industrial city 
of Clarksburg, West Virginia, to that of the little village 
of the same name located in western Virginia in the early 
days of the eighteenth century. Yet to Jonathan Jackson, 
who inherited much business acumen and foresight, it was 
easily apparent that the town would be the leading one of 
the great interior in time, the key to the upper Monon- 
gahela, and therefore a good place wherein to settle for 
the practice of law. Here, in what is now the very heart 
of the city, he in 1818 erected a neat three-roomed cottage, 
with semi-attic and inset porch, of a type now fast disap¬ 
pearing. No paved street lay in front. No concrete walks 
afforded means of egress and access. The street was the 
road, and alongside ran an ordinary fence surrounding a 
lot of some proportions with an old gnarled apple tree 
therein, which tradition relates was set out by Benjamin 
Wilson from seed secured from the famed ‘‘Appleseed 
Johnny.’’ The site is now covered by a three-story brick 
building erected by D. Davidson in 1861; in 1911 there 
was attached thereto a bronze tablet by the Stonewall Jack- 
son Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy which 
informs the public that it is the site of the birthplace of 
"'General Stonewall Jackson.” Here, on September 30, 1869, 
no less a personage than Horace Greely—he who espoused 
enthusiasms so opposite—stood with bared head and ad¬ 
dressed to the assembled crowd a touching eulogy on the 
spirit of the departed chieftain. 

To this home place Jonathan Jackson brought Julia 
Neale, his Parkersburg bride. Rather a brunette, with dark 
brown hair, dark gray eyes, of medium height, handsome 
face, a close student and well educated, she at once became 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 39 


a favorite in the little town. Edward Jackson, the father 
of Jonathan, took much interest in the young couple, and 
gave to them some property holdings (inherited, it has been 
stated, but Jonathan Jackson died before his father). The 
law practice grew, and the young lawyer seemed destined 
to achieve success; the children born to him came into the 
world with no thought of the troubles that were in store 
for the family in the future. The father, like many in 
those days, in a region far removed from banks and other 
financial institutions, advanced money and endorsed notes 
for his neighbors. In March, 1827, the oldest child, Eliza¬ 
beth, contracted typhoid fever. The father turned his at¬ 
tention to the bedside of the sick one, and in the same 
month both passed to the great beyond, leaving the widow, 
a little daughter, Laura, and two little boys, Warren and 
Thomas. 

The investigation of the following weeks revealed that 
every vestige of the property of the family had been swept 
away. The Masonic fraternity, of which Jonathan Jackson 
had long been a member, came to the rescue and the be¬ 
reaved ones took up their abode in a small one-room cottage 
furnished by the organization. Turning to look for some 
means of livelihood, the mother took up sewing and, being 
solicited to do so, opened a three-months school. During 
this time came the opportunity for the future general’s first 
exploration of the outside world. Left with a neighbor’s 
child somewhat their elder while the school was in session, 
the little girl and the two little boys, Warren and Thomas, 
did well enough until their protector deserted them. Warren 
raised a window, and the three youngsters got out as best 
they could and started down the road. The mother re¬ 
turned to find the house empty and for a time was nearly 
distracted, until it developed that Jesse Jarvis, for many 
years deputy clerk of the county court of Harrison, had 
found them and taken them to his home. With the year 
1830, the story of the family and its connection with 
Clarksburg comes to a close. 




40 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


CHAPTER V 

THE BOY AT JACKSON’S MILLS 

On the removal of the family of Jonathan Jackson to 
present Fayetteville, Warren Avas sent to live with Alfred 
Neale, of Parkersburg. Thomas and his sister, Laura, 
after a few months in the new home, returned to Lewis 
county to make their home with Elizabeth Cummins Jack- 
son, second wife of their grandfather, Edward Jackson, two 
maiden aunts and several uncles, among whom was Cum¬ 
mins Jackson, who was destined to take a great interest 
in the future general. 

Some two years later Thomas left Jackson’s Mills for 
a short time and resided with Isaac Brake in Harrison 
county. Some difficulty, either real or fancied by the young 
mind, arose, and he suddenly appeared at the home of 
Mrs. John J. Allen, at Clarksburg. She, after listening 
to his troubles, told him he should return to his Uncle 
Brake. '‘Maybe I ought to, ma’am, but I am not going 
to,” was his reply; and he again took up his home at the 
“old homestead” below Weston. 

For twelve years the boyhood of the future general 
was spent at the Jackson homestead, an existence not unlike 
that of many others of the same period. Yet the lad was 
marked by many singularities that even then set him apart 
from the circles in which he moved. His strict adherence to 
truth and unfailing honesty and courage are still proverbial 
in the community. One of his schoolmates in the Clarks¬ 
burg Telegram, in 1894, says: 

Tom was always an uncommonly behaved lad, a gentleman from 
a boy up, just and kind to everyone. 

At a very early age Thomas did much work about the 
farm. The holdings of Edward Jackson had been increased 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 41 


by land patents issued to Cummins Jackson on Freeman’s 
Creek and in other adjacent locations. Much was in prime¬ 
val forest, the trees of which were cut down and hauled 
or floated to the saw mill, located at the foot of the mill 
pond just above the grist mill. Indeed, the lumber for the 
grist mill was cut in this mill, which was erected first, 
besides that used in part in the old manor house, the store 
and the blacksmith shop. Most of the neighbors’ homes 
were built from lumber from the same source, as well as the 
thirty-odd houses and shops and stores in the town of 
Weston. Tom was often directed to take charge of the men 
and the few slaves engaged in the forest, a task he per¬ 
formed well, even though he would seem to us a mere child. 
His labors also took him to the grist mill, where he worked 
under the direction of the millers, all of whom felt an 
unusual interest in the orphan boy. 

Yet, with all his industriousness, he was a boy, with a 
boy’s inclinations and addicted to spells of contemplation. 
Sitting by the side of the mill race or at the end of the 
dam, he would be seen by neighbors deep in a book or en¬ 
gaged in silent meditation. From this he would turn to his 
chickens, a collie dog, and a few sheep with great zest. The 
barnyard occupants were a great delight, and he wrote 
much to his aunt, Mrs. Alfred Neale, concerning this phase 
of his boyhood life. Soon he learned to ride the horses 
and made several weekly trips to Weston for the mail and 
to secure books loaned by the village folk. From this he 
went on to practicing on the race track, traces of which 
can still be seen on the farm of Wilson Arnold adjoining 
the home place; by the time he was twelve he could ride 
as well as any of the older boys in the races held at this 
spot. 

Early in life he was seized with some obscure form 
of dyspepsia, and on the advice of others he sought fervently 
all kinds of outdoor life. He continued, however, to be 
troubled by nervous indigestion for the rest of his life. 
His health was not seriously affected by it. 



42 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


The sheep were his pride, and when shearing time 
came he took great delight in that procedure, later hauling 
the wool to the carding mill of a family connection, David 
Hays, at Jane Lew. The wool was taken home, spun and 
made into clothing, some of which he wore. A small amount 
of flax was raised, and Thomas worked on this with a flail, 
breaking it; from it a coarse linen cloth was woven. 
He rode with his uncles in the fox hunt and took part in 
deer hunts in the fall. During the winter months he trapped 
rabbits along the river and in the forests back of the 
bottom lands. 

South of the mill pond stood a magniflcent grove of 
sugar maples, which were by Jackson regarded more or 
less as his personal property. In ‘‘sap season^^ the maples 
were tapped and the resultant product made into maple 
sugar, an operation in which Thomas became quite pro- 
flcient. The river then—before the passing of the forests— 
was much larger in volume than at this day and could not 
be crossed except on a horse at the “ford.” With the aid 
of “Robinson,” a log was selected and, with Thomases own 
hands, the inside was burned out and the trunk fashioned 
into the canoe of that period. His sister, Laura, who lived 
at Jackson's Mills until after 1835, made many trips in 
this improvised ferry-boat. Tradition relates that he once 
attempted to cross during a spring freshet, but the current 
was so swift that he lost control and was swept over the 
dam, being compelled to swim ashore. Indeed, it is quite 
possible that years later, as Jackson lay dying, his mind 
reverted to the scenes of his boyhood when he uttered his 
last words: “Let us cross over the river and rest in the 
shade of the trees.” 

About three hundred feet from the site of the old 
Jackson home there still stands an immense chestnut tree. 
With it is connected a well-verified anecdote clearly illus¬ 
trating the determination and grit of Stonewall Jackson as 
a boy. One night he, in company with some boys from 
down the river and a few of the slaves with choice “coon 





Jackson’s Mills, 1920. 

Above—Monument on site of Cummins Jackson home. Top: Cum¬ 
mins Jackson House, the Mill and Cemetery in 1886. 















FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 43 


dogs/' set out for the hills next to McCann's Run. The 
hours passed with little luck and the party set out for 
home. The way led through a cornfield in the level bottom 
land north of the home place, and here the dogs routed out 
a big raccoon that sought refuge in this chestnut tree. 

Clubs and other methods failed to dislodge the prey, 
and a darkey was told to “shin up" the tree. Eyes shining 
in the flickering light of a pine knot were all of the raccoon 
that could be made out, and these on a large limb well out. 
Obedient to instructions, the colored boy did his best, but 
the coon put up such a fight that he fell from the tree. He 
was not hurt, but declared the animal to be a bear and not 
a coon. 

Young Jackson laughed impatiently, announced that 
he would get it and started up the tree himself. Climbing 
out on the limb and encountering a resistance such as a 
large coon can give, he speedily dispatched it with a club. 
Needless to say, he was a hero among the boys for days 
thereafter. 

The West Fork of the Monongahela then contained 
fish of a size and variety seldom found since the hills have 
been denuded of forest. Turtles of a rare size were easily 
caught, and such prey afforded opportunity to earn a little 
money. Thomas Jackson fished much. As an evidence of 
his upright character comes the story of his dealings in 
fish with Conrad Kester, the gunsmith at Weston. One 
morning he came by the home of Colonel John Talbott 
with a fine three-foot pike hanging over his shoulder. 

Colonel Talbott hailed him, “Tom, that is a fine fish 
you have there; what will you take for it?" 

“This fish is sold. Colonel Talbott," replied Thomas. 

“I'll give you a dollar for it, Tom." 

“I can't take it. Colonel Talbott; this fish is sold to 
Mr. Kester." 

“But, Tom, I will give you a dollar and a quarter; surely 
he will not give you more than that." 




44 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


Thomas straightened up, saying: ‘'Colonel Talbott, I 
have an agreement with Mr. Kester to furnish him fish of a 
certain length for fifty cents each. He has taken some 
from me a little shorter than that; now he is going to get 
this big fish for fifty cents.'' 

Kester also offered him one dollar for it, but he re¬ 
fused, giving the same reason he had given Colonel Talbott. 

Thomas took part in the social life of the community. 
On one occasion he started out to attend a party. On the 
way he had to pass a place said to be haunted, a terror to 
all the youth of the neighborhood. As he approached the 
spot his horse was frightened at a white object in the road. 
“Who art thou?" cried Jackson. No reply. “Who art 
thou?" he demanded a second time. No reply, but the 
ghost grew taller. “Who art thou?" came the third time. 
No reply yet, but the ghost rose to an enormous height and 
spread wings in a threatening manner. He, who as a man 
faced cannon unflinchingly, as a boy succumbed to the 
ghost. “Lucy," he said to his horse, “if you ever did me 
any good, do it now." Lucy needed no further urging and 
fled at full speed to the ford, where Jackson crossed and 
rode to his destination by another route. His Uncle Edward 
played the ghost and told the story. 

The educational facilities afforded by the state of Vir¬ 
ginia at that early day were very meager. During some 
years there were no schools of any kind except a private 
school at Weston conducted by Matthew Holt, which 
opened in 1832. There is no record to indicate that Jackson 
ever attended this school. Later, Robert P. Ray, at the 
instigation of Cummins Jackson, taught a term in a build¬ 
ing generally supposed to have been near the Jackson 
home, if not one of the buildings there. Thomas attended 
his first sessions there and for a time went to a school on 
McCann's Run. This was the beginning of a strong desire 
for further learning. His efforts were so strenuous along 
this line that they caused a loss to his Uncle Cummins, 
but one which he forgave. 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 45 


A well-authenticated tale is told that Cummins Jackson 
owned one slave who was somewhat above the average in 
mentality. Thomas made an agreement with the negro 
that if the latter would provide pine knots, which were 
stuck in the jam of the fireplace and furnished light by 
which to study, he would teach him to read and write. This 
agreement was carried out, and the slave kept at the task 
until he became sufficiently learned to write a pass on the 
“Underground Railroad'’ and ran away to Canada. 

The late William E. Arnold, a distant cousin, relates 
an event that occurred while he was under the tutelage of 
a Mr. Mills, who taught a school for a few months near 
Westfield, as evidence of Jackson's extraordinary decision 
of purpose. “Thomas was a pupil," says Mr. Arnold, “and 
whilst on the way to school an overgrown rustic behaved 
rudely toward two of the girls. He was fired at his cow¬ 
ardly conduct and told him that he must apologize to them 
at once or he would thrash him. The big rustic, supposing 
that he was an overmatch for him, declined to do so, where¬ 
upon he pitched into him and gave him a severe pounding." 

Mr. Arnold, writing in the Weston Democrat, further 
describes his character: 

He was a youth of exemplary habits. He was not what is 
now termed brilliant, but he was one of those untiring matter-of- 
fact persons who never would give up an undertaking until he ac¬ 
complished his object. He learned slowly, but what he got in his 
head he never forgot. He was not quick to decide, but then when 
he made up his mind to do a thing, he did it on short notice and 
in quick time. 

His untiring efforts toward self-improvement were 
noted by Dabney, who says: 

To prove himself worthy of his forefathers was the purpose 
of his early manhood. It gives us a key to many of the singularities 
of his character; to his hunger for self-improvement; to his punc¬ 
tilious observance from a boy of the essentials of a gentlemanly 
bearing.- 

In the fall of 1836, Warren Jackson, then teaching 
school in present Upshur county, came to Jackson's Mills 



46 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


on a visit. The two brothers set out to visit their sister 
Laura at the home of their uncle, Alfred Neale, who re¬ 
sided just above Parkersburg on James Island. Here they 
learned of the custom then in vogue of selling firewood to 
steamboats plying the Ohio River. As a means of monetary 
remuneration this appealed to their youthful minds. After 
a short visit at the home of George White, who had mar¬ 
ried their aunt, Rebecca Jackson, then residing at Pawn 
Creek (Belleville), Wood county, the two boys set out for 
Southern waters. 

This undertaking finally led them below the mouth 
of the Ohio, where on an island in the Mississippi they lo¬ 
cated and plied their trade. Finally, in the throes of 
malarial fever, perhaps against the desire of the older 
brother, Warren, the undertaking was abandoned; the re¬ 
turn trip was made by way of Parkersburg in February, 
1837. The two boys, again at home, were rather reluctant 
to talk of their experiences, of which two new trunks were 
the principal physical evidence. 

After thirteen years of legislation and some prelimi¬ 
nary work, the actual construction of the noted Parkersburg 
and Staunton Turnpike through Lewis county got under 
way in 1837. On June 14 of that year. Major Minter 
Bailey, owner of Bailey's Hotel at Weston, was appointed 
a commissioner to sell contracts for construction. The con¬ 
tracts were made in July. A great deal of surveying was 
yet to be done, and the commissioner personally supervised 
the contracts let. Jackson secured a place under him during 
the summer and labored long and faithfully. Mrs. Bailey 
each day packed a lunch for him, and he spent a part of 
his meal hour in reading or asking questions. Problems of 
engineering, the compass and level seemed to appeal to him 
very much. He was described as being one of the best 
fellows on the job, always doing just what he was told and 
doing it well. 

Considerable stress has been laid by various writers 
on the lack of religious atmosphere surrounding the boy- 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 47 


hood of Jackson and the alleged human frailties of his 
uncle, who was by many looked upon as the nominal head 
of the house. ‘'Cummins Jackson, though temperate and 
energetic, was utterly devoid of Christianity, of a violent 
and unscrupulous character,'' writes Dabney in his widely 
read and otherwise admirable work, “and the wonder is 
that the circumstances did not simply make him [Genera] 
Jackson] another Cummins Jackson." Cummins Jackson, 
it is true, was a man of keen likes and dislikes and had a 
passion, it seems, for “goin' a-lawin,'" according to the 
vernacular of that day. His ideas as to Christianity have 
not come down to us, but his conduct and attitude toward 
his orphan nephew do much toward effacing any bizarre 
stories that came to the ears of Dabney or his contem¬ 
poraries. Early in life Cummins Jackson began to patent 
lands on adjacent streams. Squatters and settlers, both 
good and bad, who also received title to lands, with over¬ 
lapping lines, soon engaged him in endless controvercies. 
In the Clarksburg Enquirer, September 12, 1832, he notifies 
John Hardman and James Keith of a suit against them 
and calls James M. Camp, Daniel Stringer, William Mc¬ 
Kinley, Thomas Bland, Weedon Huffman and Gideon Cam¬ 
den, as his witnesses. To one familiar with these men it 
does not appear that he traveled in bad company. Again, 
some of the alleged violations of law took place after 
Thomas Jackson had gone to serve his country in Mexico 
and these could not therefore have had the remotest in¬ 
fluence upon his character. 

During five years of Thomas's residence at Jackson's 
Mills his step-grandmother lived; until 1839 his uncle 
James Madison had much to do with the direction of 
affairs; and there were in addition two aunts and other 
uncles of more youthful years. Opportunities for re¬ 
ligious worship were not wanting. There had been a 
Baptist Society nearby on Freeman's Creek since 1820. 

The Broad Run Baptist Church, dating back to 1808, 
often held Thomas's attention, and near the home of a 




48 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


family connection, John H. Hays, on Hacker’s Creek, was 
the Harmony Methodist Church, organized in 1829 and 
presided over by that early ''soldier of the cross”, John 
Mitchell. In the town of Weston, where the "gentry” 
were no greater and no better than their country kins¬ 
men, John Talbott, Jonathan Holt, and John L. Williams 
administered to the spiritual needs of the community 
during this period in a full fledged Methodist Society. A 
daughter of one of these men is authority for the state¬ 
ment that on several occasions "Thomas Jackson, a shy, 
unobtrusive boy, sat with unabated interest in a long 
sermon, having walked three miles in order to attend.” 
Members of the Jackson family were connected with 
some of these church organizations, especially the Bap¬ 
tists, and it would not be too much to say that few 
communities of its period and population had a better 
religious background. 

“Men of the ruling houses like the Jacksons”, continues Dabney, 
“were too often found to be corrupted by the power and wealth with 
which the teeming fertility of the soil of their new country was re¬ 
warding their talents. Moreover the general morals of the commu¬ 
nity were loose and the irregularities too often found countenance 
from those of the highest station.” 

As a matter of fact, the "power and wealth” did not 
exist. Not even a bank was in existence in the county 
until after Thomas Jackson had taken up his residence in 
Lexington. Land was cheap, money was scarce, folk were 
"land poor”, and the "teeming fertility” allowed the 
gleaning of grain only after the hardest kind of labor in 
clearing the forest. 

Continuing, Dabney says "no one will wonder then 
that as young Jackson approached manhood his conduct 
became irregular” and he "became a frequenter of house 
raisings and log rollings.” Strange indeed would have 
been a youth of that day who, with his elders, did not 
participate in these combination affairs of work and 
pleasure, then about all that the limited social resources 
offered. True these events could be made coarse and un- 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 49 


productive of good to the community, but not more so 
than certain social pleasures of this day and time. '‘Apple 
peelings, corn huskings’' and those gatherings enumer¬ 
ated above were attended by the best and missed by few 
citizens of the town. From such a community life have 
come ministers and bishops in the church; public men and 
soldiers; citizens who by their example left the commu¬ 
nity a better place in which to live. Not the least of 
these was Thomas Jackson. 

It is related and no doubt, with some basis of truth, 
that the religious inclinations of Jackson were accentu¬ 
ated by the intense interest in the subject manifested by 
some of the slaves in the household, particularly "Granny 
Nancy Robinson''. She was a typical "Southern mammy", 
but unlike most of them had been taught to read and 
write. She read and preached the Bible to all who would 
listen, and at one time held forth in a public meeting. 
Cecelia, who had charge of the domestic affairs of the 
home, was a devoted follower of the elder woman and 
the directing hand of the younger children in the neigh¬ 
borhood, who were all devoted to the faithful old ser¬ 
vant. Edward Jackson, as has been noted, owned ten 
slaves, as follows: Nancy, Sampson, Lamar, Cecelia, 
Meria, Aaron, Lucy, Sam, Louisa, and Lucy. Meria, who 
helped in the mill, and the first two mentioned, later be¬ 
longed to Cummins Jackson; he also acquired Robinson 
and Mary, who remained with members of the family 
until the beginning of the Civil War. 

To Robinson is attributed a piece of race track 
strategy that in the end had rather direful results for all 
parties concerned. In the summer of 1839, a number of 
running races were held on the Cummins Jackson track, 
and Thomas Jackson rode his uncle's horses in most of 
the contests. A purchase made shortly before of blooded 
stock included "Kit", whose fame as a runner soon be¬ 
came more than local. 

On Crooked Fork of Freeman's Creek was the Sim¬ 
mons farm, and on it was a course laid out for races. 




50 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


Near by resided a man who owned the only real com¬ 
petitor for Kit in the community, and it was proposed to 
pit this horse against the Jackson /horse, which had 
made a record. Money was freely bet and local feeling 
on the outcome rose to a high pitch. Robinson, on the 
night before the day set for the race and probably at the 
instigation of others, took the Jackson horse “Kit'^ up on 
Freeman's Creek and, procuring the other horse from the 
barn, with his assistants, ran several races, in all of 
which Kit was the winner. 

The stage was set, word was passed to friends and 
money was much in evidence. Tom Jackson was to ride 
the Jackson horse. But an argument arose, and in the 
controversy Cummins Jackson announced that he would 
ride his own horse and he put up more money. Being 
over six feet tall and heavy, his horse with the extra 
burden lost. The tables were turned, a fight ensued, 
and feelings were aroused that reflected themselves in 
the community for several years afterward. 

In the spring of 1840, Benjamin Lightburn, of West¬ 
moreland County, Pa., removed to the neighborhood, 
establishing a mill on the West Fork, a few miles below 
the Jackson homestead. Among the members of his 
family was a son, Joseph Andrew Jackson, who was soon 
to become a great “chum" of young Thomas Jackson. 
Lightburn owned a book he valued greatly. The Life of 
Francis Marion, by Mason Weems; he also took a pro¬ 
found interest in religious matters. Jackson had a Bible, 
with which he was quite familiar. It was no unusual 
sight for travelers to the “Ford" to see the two boys 
deeply engaged in study and consideration of the prob¬ 
lems and interests presented to their youthful minds by 
these two books. Who can say what influence the story 
of the “Swamp Fox" and the Bible had upon their lives? 
Both espoused military careers, in which they rose to high 
rank; the one surviving the Civil War was ordained a 
minister in the Baptist Church, and continued to fight for 
Christianity as he had earlier fought for the Union. 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 51 


From this it would appear that Jackson’s deep religious¬ 
ness manifested itself at an early period in his life—much 
earlier than has generally been supposed. 

Indeed there is but little question that the thought of 
becoming a minister in the church often received much 
attention from Jackson. In very early years he often 
voiced such a sentiment, and later declared that if he had 
more education and could overcome a diffidence in speak¬ 
ing in public he most assuredly would have entered the 
ministry. 

Writing from Lexington, Va., about 1852, to his Aunt 
Clemetine (Mrs. Alfred) Neale, of Parkersburg, he says 
in part: 

The subject of becoming a herald of the Cross has often seri¬ 
ously engaged my attention, and I regard it as the most noble of all 
professions. It is the profession of our divine Redeemer, and I 
should not be surprised were I to die upon a foreign field, clad in 
ministerial armor, fighting under the banner of Jesus* What could 
be more glorious? But my conviction is that I am doing good here, 
and that for the present I am where God would have me. Within the 
last few days I have felt an unusual religious joy. I do rejoice to 
walk in the love of God. 

In early years he displayed some interest in music. 
The old melodies of the slaves were known to him, and he 
could carry them through in their dialect. Like many 
boys in the rural districts of that day, he became quite 
expert in the making of “corn stalk fiddles”, and it is 
related that during a recess period of the school on 
McCann’s Run he became so engrossed in the task that 
the teacher finally had to go out and bring him in to class. 
About 1840 he came into possession of a regular violin, 
badly in need of repairs. Taking it to Conrad Kester, the 
gunsmith of Weston, with whom he was on the most 
friendly terms, he soon had the instrument in serviceable 
condition. After hours of patient practice, Jackson gained 
proficiency on it. 

During the summer of 1840, Richard P. Camden, ac¬ 
companied by John S. Camden and a young son, Thomas, 
set out on horseback to Lightburn’s farm on a business 




52 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


errand. As they approached Jackson Ford, they heard 
the sound of a violin interrupting the stillness of the 
scene. Suddenly around the bend of the road came a 
short procession led by Thomas Jackson, who suddenly 
ceased playing. By his side walked “Joe” Lightburn, 
carrying a flag; back of him marched a boy named 
Butcher with a kettle and some five or six other boys of 
the neighborhood, with a rear guard of three colored 
boys, one of whom carried an old gun. A hurried con¬ 
sultation was held, and then the future military leader 
suddenly broke into the strains of “Napoleon’s March”, 
and with “eyes front” all the young soldiers filed by the 
riders, passing out of sight without even a backward 
look. 

An unconfirmed tradition relates that in the fall of 
1840 Jackson taught school for three months. This school 
is said to have been conducted in a long building erected 
by one Valentine Butcher near the mouth of Gee Lick of 
Freeman’s Creek, near the Jackson home. There is yet 
in existence a “copy” he is supposed to have “set” for his 
scholars in penmanship which runs as follows: 

“A man of words and not of deeds, 

Is like a garden full of weeds.” 

In December, 1841, Jackson wrote to his Uncle 
Alfred Neale, informing him of the death of his brother 
Warren, which occurred in November of that year. In 
the spring of 1842, he wrote further, 

I have received no answer to my last communication conveying 
the sad news of my brother’s premature death. He died in the hope 
of a bright immortality at the right hand of his Redeemer. * * * * 
As time is knowledge I must hasten my pen forward. We have re¬ 
ceived the smile of a bounteous providence in a favorable spring. 
There is a volunteer company being formed here to march to Texas, 
in order to assist in the noble cause of liberty. 

Three of this proposed company, William Newlon, 
Joseph Hill Camden and Jonathan Wamsley, did go to 
Texas. 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 53 


CHAPTER VI 

THE CONSTABLE 

In the fall of 1839, a private school was opened in 
the assembly room of the first court house of the county 
of Lewis, at Weston, under the direction of Colonel Alex¬ 
ander Scott Withers. Thomas Jackson, through the kind¬ 
ness of his Uncle Cummins, was permitted to attend this 
school for some two months, walking or riding each day 
from the Jackson homestead. The teacher was not un¬ 
known in parts far removed from this locality, as he was 
the author of Chronicles of Border Warfare, the first book 
printed west of the Alleghanies, a work that has since 
gone through six large editions and is reckoned a classic. 
Colonel Withers' tastes were domestic; he preferred the 
society of his books—the study of the Latin and Greek 
classics in the original—to public life, which would other¬ 
wise have called a man of his ability and education. 

Colonel Withers was attracted by the evident sin¬ 
cerity of Thomas Jackson in his school work and had 
often observed him in the Jackson home, where he was 
an occasional visitor. For a time he maintained a resi¬ 
dence in Weston, and also lived a number of years below 
Jackson's Mills, near the mouth of McCann's Run, where 
he leased a farm that he later acquired in 1857. To the 
young people of the community, when he could be found 
in the mood. Colonel Withers was a delightful entertainer, 
lending them copies of his book, relating further stories of 
Indian warfare and tales of ''old Fauquier County", 
where he had been born in 1792. Wearing the best of 
attire and a tall silk hat, he called on the Jacksons one 
day and while there bought a small sack of meal at the 
mill. It was prepared so that he could carry it to his 
home a short distance below on the river, but this he 
declined to do, stating that he would send Old Kit, a 



54 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


faithful slave, for the sack. Young Joseph Lightburn, 
about to return home from spending the day with Thomas 
Jackson, volunteered to carry it but was informed by the 
Colonel that ‘‘gentlemen from Fauquier had servants for 
such tasks and worked their heads instead of their 
hands”. Thomas thoughtfully replied, “Well, when one 
has money to go to William and Mary College, then he 
knows how to work his head”. “Some day I will get you 
a job so that you can earn some money”, replied Withers 
as he rode away. Later he fulfilled his promise. 

On August 14, 1840, Governor Thomas Gilmer ap¬ 
pointed Colonel Withers, a justice of the peace and, as 
such, a member of the county court of Lewis. As a jus¬ 
tice, Colonel Withers was fearless, independent and de¬ 
cided. In the spring of 1841, the office of constable in the 
Freeman's Creek section became vacant, and he at once, 
after a conference with Major Minter Bailey, a close 
friend, called on Cummins Jackson and suggested Tom 
Jackson for the place. It would help the boy a little 
financially, and more physically, and give him contact 
with other people. Objection was made that he was very 
young, but, nevertheless, his friends decided to support 
him. The eighth of June found all interested at the 
county seat to await the result, which is partly disclosed 
in the following court record (Record Book 1837, 606) : 

At a court held for the county of Lewis, at the court house 
thereof on Tuesday, the 8th day of June, A. D. 1841. 

The court this day proceeded to appoint constables in this 
county; Richard Hall and Thomas Jackson were put in nomination 
as candidates. There voted for Richard Hall, David Bennett, Joseph 
McCoy, Philip Reger, Samuel Z. Jones, Richard Dobson, Jacob 
Lorentz, John Reger, James Malone, Matthew Holt, Benjamin Rid¬ 
dle, Alexander Huffman and James M. Camp, 12. For Thomas Jack- 
son, Minter Bailey, Alexander S. Withers, William Powers, Simon 
Rohrbough & Jacob L. Jackson, 5; and the said Richard Hall having 
received a majority of the votes of the Justices present was declared 
duly elected. 

One can imagine with what pangs of disappointment 
the result was learned by the youthful aspirant. Richard 



Copy of Receipt Given “Judge” Robert Irvine by Jackson. 





























FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 55 


Hall, his opponent, was a resident of the near neighbor¬ 
hood, an excellent man and the founder of a family prom¬ 
inent in the annals of the county. Among his supporters 
were residents of the Collins Settlement section and por¬ 
tions of the present Upshur county, one or more of whom 
were connected with the Jackson family. Jackson’s sup¬ 
porters, as will be noticed, included the two men who 
espoused his candidacy; William Powers, who had fur¬ 
nished much assistance to Withers in his literary pur¬ 
suits; Simon Rohrbough, and one of the distantly re¬ 
lated Jackson kinsmen. 

The subsequent proceedings are unknown, or as yet 
undiscovered. No bond is found for Hall; possibly he, 
guided by a feeling of kindliness toward the orphan boy, 
declined to accept the office. Another story is that Cum¬ 
mins Jackson had acted as ^‘family banker” for some of 
the members, and that they changed their minds and de¬ 
cided to make arrangements for two constables. How¬ 
ever that may be, the fact remains that Thomas Jackson 
was elected a constable at the same term of court as evi¬ 
denced by the following entry (Record Book 1837, 650) : 

Friday, June 11th, 1841. 

Thomas Jackson who was appointed a constable in the 2nd dis¬ 
trict in this county at this term this day appeared in open court and 
entered into bond wiith security in the penalty of $2,000 which bond 
is ordered to be recorded, and took the several oaths prescribed by 
law, the court being of opinion that he is a man of honesty, probity 
and good demeanor. 

Cummins Jackson and John White appeared and 
signed his bond, and, at seventeen years of age, Thomas 
Jackson found himself a full fledged constable. Of his 
service in this office little is of record; it covered the short 
space of one year. Sylvanus White, a cousin, in later 
years, wrote to Thomas J. Arnold, concerning this period 
as follows: 

I went with him on one occasion to show him the near way 
through the forest, over the hills some three or four miles to a man’s 



56 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


house by the name of Dennis, whom he wished to serve with a legal 
process. He left the horse at father’s, and we went on foot. He 
served the papers and we returned home. I remember to have seen 
him and William Stringer have a very hot political discussion one day 
in Weston. Stringer Was an ardent Whig; he was perhaps 45 years 
of age. Thomas would not stand to have his word disputed, but went 
and brought papers and proved his point. Father was a security 
for him in his official capacity. Thomas never superintended his 
uncle’s farm, or the mill work; some of the uncles were always at 
home. He was a great favorite of mine, one of the most sincere, 
upright, polite persons I ever knew. The biographies written of him 
as to his early life are in many respects erroneous. 

Receipts and notations thereon indicate something of 
his trials while acting in the capacity of constable; often¬ 
times circumstances arose that required the skill and 
acumen of a man, but he unfailingly made good in all he 
undertook. One incident, well authenticated, proves 
this statement. 

A widow who resided along the river below Weston 
sold some goods to a local resident, long noted for his 
penuriousness, who did not pay as promised. Jackson 
visited him time and again about the debt, but he kept 
putting off the settlement. One day Jackson was stand¬ 
ing in the door of a livery stable at Weston when he saw 
the man approaching on horseback. The constable 
stepped back out of sight. The debtor rode up, dis¬ 
mounted, and was tying his horse to the hitching rail in 
front of ‘'Benny'' Pritchard's blacksmith shop, when 
Jackson stepped out. Seeing Jackson, he hurriedly un¬ 
hitched his horse and swung into the saddle just as the 
former grasped the bridle reins, intending to levy on the 
horse to meet the debt. But the man guessed his inten¬ 
tion and leaped on the horse, knowing that it could not 
be levied upon with its owner in the saddle. Jackson 
knew that also, but he started to lead the horse through 
the open door into the shop. The rider ordered him to 
release the animal and, when he failed to do so, lashed 
him over the head and shoulders with his riding whip. 
Young Jackson bent his head to escape the cuts and dog- 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 57 


gedly led the horse on through the doorway. The rider 
was forced to jump to the ground in order to avoid injury, 
and Jackson levied on the animal. There was nothing 
left for the man to do but to pay the debt or lose his horse, 
and so he paid. 

The position of constable that day carried with it 
more dignity and authority than at the present time. 
Counties in Virginia were then governed by justices of 
the peace, who besides acting as members of the county 
court, which they held jointly, were authorized to decide 
singly in their own neighborhood upon controversies over 
property or money involving sums not exceeding twenty 
dollars. Of this little court the constable was the chief 
officer—as it were, a minor sheriff. 




58 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


CHAPTER VII 

THE APPOINTMENT TO WEST POINT 

There are few youths of the upper Monongahela Val¬ 
ley who have not, perhaps many times, visited the historic 
Jackson homestead below Weston, now sadly defaced by 
the hand of time and the ravages of fire, and who have 
not heard from the lips of their elders the traditional ac¬ 
counts of ‘'Stonewairs^' going to West Point. Nor is 
tradition confined to this region alone, for writers all over 
the land, after Jackson’s fame became the property of 
the nation, in their often excellent books covered this epi¬ 
sode in his life with the romantic mantle of the "‘Village 
Blacksmith” and like characters of fiction. They took 
refuge, as it would seem, in the theory of one writer who 
said, “Surround a reasonable basis of facts with fiction 
and the reader will do the rest.” The fact of the errone¬ 
ousness of popular accounts does not, however, detract 
from the interest of the event. It should be said, in all 
fairness, that there is no strange romance back of Jack¬ 
son’s appointment, and still there is an interesting true 
story. 

When Joseph Johnson, after a long term of service 
in Congress, decided not to seek another term, the Jack- 
son family, then the most powerful political faction in 
western Virginia, brought out as a candidate Samuel L. 
Hays, already prominent in state politics. He resided 
near the mouth of Freeman’s Creek, below Weston, and 
was successful in the election in the fall of 1840, taking 
his seat on March 4, 1841. He was in Washington con¬ 
tinuously from December 6, 1841, until August 31, 1842. 

Samuel L. Hays was born near Clarksburg in 1795 
and resided in early boyhood on the waters of Elk Creek. 
In 1817 he married Roama Arnold of the Fauquier County 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 59 


family (who died about 1848) and removed to Lewis 
County, locating on a tract of land conveyed by John G. 
Jackson; in later years he removed to Stewart's Creek in 
present Gilmer, but then Lewis County. To this union 
were born: Elizabeth, who married John Webb; Pere¬ 
grine, who married Louisa Sexton; Othella who removed 
to California during the '‘gold rush of '49"; John E., who 
married a Miss Lewis of Wood County; Samuel L. Jr., 
who married Elizabeth Cather; Norvell; Mary, who mar¬ 
ried Shelton Furr; Drusilla, who married Levi Johnson; 
Warren, Edmund, and Calhoun. Samuel L. Hays served 
as a member of the Virginia assembly, 1831-36, 1844-45, 
and 1850-51; he was appointed a justice of the county 
court of Lewis, June 4, 1833; member of the board of 
trustees of Northwestern Virginia Academy; and mem¬ 
ber of the board of visitors, Virginia Military Institute. 
In the late fifties he married (2) Nancy Covert and in 
1856 was appointed by President Buchanan receiver of 
the land office of Minnesota, situated at Sauk Rapids. 
Here he married (3) Mrs. Emma Hand Fletcher and here 
he died in 1871. He is described as an orator of un¬ 
usual ability. 

Another prominent actor in the event was George 
W. Jackson (1791-1876) of Weston, who had been ap¬ 
pointed a lieutenant in the 19th Regiment of Infantry, 
July 6, 1812, by President Madison; advanced to captain 
August 15, 1813; transferred to the 17th Regiment and 
resigned, July 9, 1814. He married Hester Taylor; and 
to this union were born; Margaret E., who married Jona¬ 
than M. Bennett (1816-1887); Capt. James T., who mar¬ 
ried Phoebe Wilson of a prominent Harrison County 
family; Eliza, who married Cornelius Hurley; Katherine, 
who married Gibson J. Butcher, the first appointee to 
West Point in the case; and Alfred H., who married Mary 
Paxton and who later, as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Con¬ 
federate army, before his untimely death gave promise 
of a military genius second only to that of his illustrious 




60 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


cousin. Here was, as will be seen, a web of interlated 
interests that existed for years. 

In the spring of 1842 an appointment to West Point 
was assigned the Congressional district represented by 
Hays, who at once took steps to fill it. The fact soon 
became known throughout the community; the appoint¬ 
ment especially appealed to Captain George Jackson, 
who from his connection with the army and his associa¬ 
tion with kindred who had graduated at West Point, 
knew something of the value of such an education. In 
addition, the reader may possibly discern a trace of a 
romance in the first appointment. More than one appli¬ 
cant desired the coveted appointment. Johnson N. Cam¬ 
den, who was the next appointee from the district, was 
one. 

It developed that Camden was two years too young, 
but he had formidable political backing. Joseph A. J. 
Lightburn, a young man of eighteen, who had arrived 
from Pennsylvania some two years before, was another 
candidate. The other two were Gibson J. Butcher and 
Thomas Jackson. 

While there is no direct evidence extant concerning 
the manner of the appointment, there seems good rea¬ 
son to believe that, in order to settle the matter, 
some kind of a preliminary examination was held 
under the direction of Captain George Jackson. This 
was in the ‘‘Old Bailey House'', at the corner of Second 
and Main Streets in Weston, now occupied by the Lewis 
County Bank. The result of the test was that Gibson J. 
Butcher was selected from among the applicants. He is 
described by various writers as an “orphan youth of good 
character and ambitious." His family was in many ways 
closely connected socially and otherwise with the Jack- 
sons. In later years, George Warren Hays, a grandson 
of the Congressman wrote: 

Grandfather often related that the appointment had first been 
given to Butcher. He passed some sort of a local examination and 




The “Old Bailey House Building”, Weston, W. Va., 
as it appeared about the close of the Civil War. Here Jackson and 
others took an examination for entrance to West Point. Among the 
crowd in front are: David Bare (1803-1883); Dr. Thomas Camden, 
(1829-1910) ; Judge Matthew Edmiston, (1814-1887) ; John S. Cam¬ 
den, (1851-1923); and Andrew Edmiston, (1849-). 














' A 



f I 

I im* A. 


A 


• 4 


I 

•• 


< * 






n^XjL 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 61 


was more proficient in mathematics than any of the others who had 
made application. 

The subsequent history of the unsuccessful candi¬ 
dates is of more than passing interest. Jackson, as will 
be seen, secured the place. Camden succeeded him at 
West Point, being admitted in July 1846. He resigned at 
the end of the second year to take up the study of law, 
became a builder of railroads, a vice-president of the 
Standard Oil Company and United States Senator from 
West Virginia. Lightburn, not to be thwarted in his de¬ 
sire for a military career, became a private, corporal and 
sergeant in the general service, December 5, 1846 to De¬ 
cember, 1851; Colonel 4th (W.) Virginia Infantry August 
14, 1861; brigadier-general of volunteers, March 14, 
1863; resigned, June 22, 1865. Butcher was for a num¬ 
ber of years a director of the branch of the Exchange 
Bank of Virginia and the National Exchange Bank at 
Weston; he served a term as clerk of the legislature and 
as clerk of the circuit court of Lewis County, 1856-60. 

The records of the War Department show that Gib¬ 
son J. Butcher ‘‘was conditionally appointed a cadet to 
West Point on April 19, 1842, by Hon. John C. Spencer, 
in the name of the President upon the recommendation 
of Hon. Samuel L. Hays, Representative in Congress from 
Virginia.'’ The condition was that Butcher would appear 
at West Point and pass the necessary examinations. In 
the latter part of May Butcher left for West Point, and of 
his experience there Sarah Nicholas Randolph writes: 

He had a quick mind; but, on seeing how hard the young men 
had to study at West Point and under what strict rules they were 
obliged to live, he determined he could not stand such a life, re¬ 
turned home, resigned his appointment and left the place to be 
filled by one whose name the world can never forget. 

Butcher, on his way back from West Point, stopped 
at the Jackson home on the way up the river from Clarks¬ 
burg to Weston and informed the family of what he had 



62 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


done. Jackson again took hope and at once proceeded to 
interview Jonathan M. Bennett, Capt. George Jackson, 
and Matthew Edmiston, who had kindly given him advice 
and loaned him books prior to the preliminary examina¬ 
tion. The greatest danger of failure for Jackson lay in 
his lack of education. It was well known that the attitude 
of Hays would be favorable to his candidacy. No letters 
of introduction to this man were needed. As a neighbor 
he had been daily in the view of the Jackson family, 
between which and himself there were the closest rela¬ 
tions. What those above Hays would do was a different 
matter. It was decided to make out several petitions to 
be presented the Secretary of War and reinforce these 
with personal letters. Jonathan M. Bennett (who, as the 
reader will note, had much to do with Jackson’s career) 
later related to John Esten Cooke that he talked the mat¬ 
ter over with Thomas, laying stress on his lack of educa¬ 
tion. Young Jackson replied, 'T am very ignorant but I 
can make it up in study. I know I have the energy and 
I think I have the intellect.” This pleased the men in¬ 
terested very much, petitions were signed, and George 
Jackson wrote to John C. Spencer in his behalf. 

Jackson, in his eagerness to lose no time should he 
secure the appointment, at once set out for Washington. 
Dressed in a full suit of homespun, his wardrobe packed 
in a pair of saddle pockets, he mounted a horse from the 
farm; and, accompanied by a colored boy, likewise 
mounted, to bring the horse back, he set out for Clarks¬ 
burg to catch the stage. The stage line at the time was 
operated by the Kuykendalls and, as the 'Tioneer Stage 
Line”, allowed one for $10 to travel 210 miles. Arriving 
at Clarksburg and finding the stage gone, Jackson over¬ 
took it near Grafton, and the servant returned with the 
horses. Jackson’s route from this point to Washington 
is obscure, but it may be said that he did not ‘‘walk 300 
miles”, “arrive covered with mud”, or “sell his horse”, 
etc., as has variously been stated. Instead, it seems that 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 63 


he left the stage at Green Valley depot, sixteen miles 
east of Cumberland, and from there took his first ride on 
a train, which, to a boy from the interior, was no doubt 
interesting and exciting. 

Arriving in Washington on June 17, he at once made 
his way to the office of Mr. Hays, presented him with the 
papers in his possession, explained his mission and 
awaited results. He also delivered to him the following 
letter from Butcher, which is in itself explanatory and 
clears up a point much discussed in the intervening years: 

Weston, June 14, 1842. 

Mr. S. L. Hays, 

Dear Sir: 

It is with deep regret that I have now to send you my resigna¬ 
tion as “Cadet” in the West Point Military Academy. I left here the 
last of May and arrived in West Point on the 3rd. of June, and after 
seeing the movements and learning the duties which I had to perform 
I came to the conclusion that I never could consent to live the life. 
I did not know as much about the institution when I applied for the 
appointment as I know now and it was altogether through the instru¬ 
mentality and persuasions of my friends that induced me to make 
application for the appointment. My friends here think it would have 
been a decided advantage for me to have remained at West Point, and 
I am of the same opinion, if I could have remained there contented 
but this I could not do, it being an institution for the education of 
young men destined for the army and for no other purpose and I 
have only to regret the disappointment which I have made, and es¬ 
pecially having disappointed you, after using your agency in pro- 
during the appointment for me, and be the consequences what they 
may I must humbly ask you to make every degree of allowance for 
me in your power and have another cadet appointed. You will 
please communicate my resignation to the Secretary of War and if 
consistent with your views still remain my friend. 

Mr. Jackson will deliver this letter to you, who is an applicant 
for the appointment. 

I did not resign when I was at West Point but left without 
reporting myself to the Superintendent. 

Will you be good enough to write to me on the receipt of this? 

Very respectfully. 

Your Ob’t. Serv’t, 

G. J. Butcher. 




64 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


This letter was ‘‘forwarded’^ to the Secretary of War 
by Hays, together with two petitions signed by the fol¬ 
lowing constituents: 

Lewis Maxwell 
Matthew Edmiston 
Gideon D. Camden 
Richard P. Camden 
John McWhorter 
William Carey 
Alexander Scott Withers 
Burton Despard 
Jonathan M. Bennett 
Allan Simpson 
Cabell Tavenner 
August J. Smith 
Weeden Hoffman 
Robert Irvine 
William Morrison 
Minter Bailey 

Hays at the same time recommended Thomas J. 
Jackson for appointment in place of Butcher, and as a 
result a conditional appointment warrant was signed by 
John S. Spencer on June 18, 1842. 

Thus did a slender thread control the destinies of this 
young man who before his death was to rise from ob¬ 
scurity to fame, but whom fate might easily have left to 
follow an ordinary career in the upper Monongahela 
Valley. Stories of a personal interview between Hays, 
Jackson and Spencer have been rampant, but, judging 
by the use of the word ^‘forwarded'’ in the records, no 
such interview seems to have taken place. The Congress¬ 
man, who often spoke of incidents in this connection, did 
not relate the conversation if one took place. The papers 
in the case likewise set at rest the statement that Jackson 
added the word "‘Jonathan’’ to his name while at West 
Point, as its first appearance is in the appointment war¬ 
rant. Indeed it may have been customary for the depart¬ 
ment to expect more than one given name. 


Cummins E. Jackson 
Jacob J. Jackson 
John White 
William E. Arnold 
George Jackson Arnold 
John Talbott 
Thomas Bland 
Peregrin Hays 
Dr. Evan Carmack 
Dr. Richard W. Riddel 
Henry F. Westfall 
William J. Bailey 
John Lorentz 
Presley Mclntire 
Smith Gibson 





FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 65 


After the securing of the appointment, Hays wrote a 
personal letter to the Superintendent at West Point, lay¬ 
ing stress on the circumstances of the appointment and 
the need and deserving qualities of the appointee. The 
utility of this may be apparent when it is noted that, from 
1838 to 1917, 4,966 boys were rejected by the academic 
board, 2,890 failing to pass in grammar. 

Hays invited Jackson to stay with his family a few 
days and see the sights of the city, but impatience to get 
to school and work led him to decline this request. He 
did climb to the dome of the then unfinished Capitol and 
viewed Washington and the surrounding country. As he 
had stood in silent meditation beside the old West Fork, 
he looked long and silently on the scene before him. Over 
the Potomac, on a height in the hills of his own Virginia, 
might be seen the home of the modest young officer, Rob¬ 
ert E. Lee; the new cadet could almost see Manassas, 
where later in the din and smoke of battle, he was to win 
undying glory and utter the following prayer: 


“Oh, God, let this horrible war quickly come to an 
end that we may all return home and engage in the only 
work that is worth while and that is the salvation of men.’* 



66 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


CHAPTER VIII 

WEST POINT. 

Just when Jackson appeared at West Point for the 
purpose of standing the preliminary examination is not 
known. It is certain that it was between June 20 and 30, 
1842. A traditionary account declares (and subsequent 
letters seem to support) the declaration that Congress¬ 
man Hays loaned him a small sum of money, and that he 
spent a day in New York while on his way. The records 
in the Adjutant's office at the Academy are very meagre, 
simply setting forth his name as ‘Thomas J. Jackson", 
resident at Weston, Lewis County, Virginia, and that he 
was admitted July 1, 1842 (Congressional District not 
given) from Virginia. 

An insight into the ideals of the young man at this 
period of his life may be gleaned from the following ex¬ 
tracts from a private note book, dated 1842: “Sacrifice 
your life rather than your word." “Resolve to perform 
what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve." 
And further, “You may be whatever you resolve to be." 
This last is the most characteristic and famous expression 
of “Stonewall" Jackson. 

The following four years were passed uneventfully; 
his studious habits never left him, and in the later years 
he came to the front rank in the study of logic. Shy and 
retiring though he was, he nevertheless made friends 
among many whose names became illustrious in the great 
Civil War to come. 

It is stated that at the time of his arrival at West 
Point Jackson was five feet ten inches in height, but that 
constant drilling developed his frame until he reached 
six feet. He had a great fondness for the artillery; upon 
graduation he stood seventeenth, having risen in a short 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 67 


time from the fifty-first place in a class of seventy-two. 
This was an extraordinary accomplishment. 

During his attendance at the Military Academy, the 
regulations of 1839 were in effect which provided that the 
Superintendent might grant a leave of absence to a cadet, 
at the request of his guardian, for all or a part of the 
encampment period. With this regulation in mind. Jack- 
son wrote home to Cummins Jackson in regard to secur¬ 
ing a vacation period. Likewise he addressed a letter to 
his sister Laura, of Beverly, (W.) Virginia, on January 
28, 1844, in which he said in part: 

Tell Uncle Cummins if you should see him shortly that I want 
him to write to me, giving me permission to come home; for without 
his consent the superintendent will not give me a furlough; though 
if you should not have an opportunity of doing so, you need not men¬ 
tion it to him, for I will write to him if I do not hear from him soon. 
Give my respects to Seely (Celia, a slave of Cummins Jackson who 
looked after household affairs) if you should see her and tell her 
that there is not a day that passes without my thinking of her, and 
that I expect to see her in less than five months. 

It seems that Cummins Jackson complied with his 
request shortly thereafter. Jackson was released on fur¬ 
lough and returned to Weston and the old home place in 
the summer of 1844. An interesting story is handed down 
concerning this visit. 

Dressed in a brand new uniform and mounted on one 
of the crack horses from the Jackson barns, in company 
with Miss Caroline Norris and others, he set out to at¬ 
tend church on Broad Run. In crossing the West Fork, 
at Wither’s Ford near McCann's Run, his horse slipped 
on a stoney fell and precipitated the future general into 
the river. In the face of objections on the part of his 
companions, he gallantly remounted though thoroughly 
wet and continued on his way. This with a stoicism that 
marked so many of his acts and no doubt with a feeling 
that he was simply keeping faith with the doctrines of the 
Broad Run Baptist Church. 



68 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


On his return to West Point in August, it would seem 
that the task of again taking up his studies weighed 
heavily upon his mind and that his thoughts reverted to 
earlier days on the West Fork of the Monongahela. 

Times are different,—he wrote his sister Laura, on September 
8, 1844,—from what they were when I was at my adopted home. 
None to give their mandates, none for me to obey but as I chose, 
surrounded by my playmates and relatives, all apparently eager to 
promote my happiness. 

On June 30, 1846, he received the brevet rank of 
second lieutenant of artillery, and graduated on July 1. 
He at once returned to visit his sister at Beverly and the 
old home at Weston. Concerning this visit, Sylvanus 
White in a letter to Thomas Jackson Arnold says: 

While he was here our County Militia was called out with a 
view of getting up a company of volunteers for the Mexican War. 
Our Colonel McKinley asked him to take command of a company in 
the day’s muster. He (Thomas) said, ‘No, I would probably not 
understand your orders.’ But the Colonel insisted. When we got on 
the parade ground the Colonel did not give the proper command and 
Tom’s company was headed uptown, so he went on, explaining after¬ 
wards that he was obeying orders. ‘I volunteered in the company 
for the Mexican War’, he said to me; ‘I expect orders any minute to 
go. I want to see you at the taking of the City of Mexico. We are 
going to take it.’ Our company was never called out. 

This visit was very short, for it appears that he 
arrived at Weston on Monday, July 20. On Wednesday 
he received orders to report to Captain Francis Taylor, 
at Fort Columbus, Governor's Island, New York, and he 
left on Thursday, July 23, for this point. 





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FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 69 


CHAPTER IX 

MEXICO AND THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE. 

On August 19, 1846, Jackson, in company with Cap¬ 
tain Francis Taylor, left Fort Hamilton with some thirty 
men and forty horses, to join the United States forces in 
Mexico. He was assigned to Company K, First Regiment 
of United States Artillery. After traveling to Pittsburgh, 
the command set out for New Orleans by boat; on the 
way down the Mississippi River they passed the island 
that had been the scene of the adventures of Thomas and 
Warren Jackson in 1836-37, when they set out to seek 
their fortune in the West. Leaving New Orleans in the 
latter part of September, the company was soon attached 
to the army of General Zachary Taylor. It remained 
more or less inactive until the spring of 1847, and in the 
meantime was transferred to the troops under the com¬ 
mand of General Winfield Scott, the commander in chief 
of the army of occupation. On March 3, 1847, Jackson 
was advanced to the full rank of second lieutenant and 
later in the same month wrote his uncle, Isaac Brake, as 
follows: 


Camp near Vera Cruz, Mexico, 
March 31, 1847. 

Dear Uncle: 

I remember with no small degree of pleasure the happy days 
which I have spent under your hospitable roof, and in the agreeable 
society of yourself and family. 

Since those happy days I have seen many vicissitudes of fortune, 
but in the all changing scenes the hand of an allwise God can be 
seen. He has prolonged my life up to the present moment though my 
health has been bad at various times, and I have been for months 
in a sickly climate. 

Since leaving home I have been in many of the large cities of 
our own country and in some of those of the enemies. Among the 
latter may be enumerated Matamoras, Monteray, Saltillo, and Vera 


( 



70 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


Cruz, the latter city in connection with the castle of San Juan Ulloa 
surrendered to us after a long siege. We landed on the ninth of 
this month near the city, and on the same night the enemy com¬ 
menced their fire on us which was kept up with occasional inter¬ 
missions until we had so bombarded and cannonaded them as to 
induce them to surrender, which they did day before yesterday giving 
up their arms, and all public property, themselves retiring into the 
interior with the understanding that they should not again take up 
arms against us during the present war. 

Troops at present occupy both town and castle. The town is of 
immense strength being surrounded on one side by a wall about ten 
feet high and forts extending around to the Gulf of Mexico, and on 
the gulf side is defended by the castle itself which is a large fortress 
of the strongest character and the works are so arranged that it is 
impossible for a man to approach the town on either side without 
being exposed to the fire of cannon. I hope that before many days I 
shall be on the march towards the City of Mexico. Vera Cruz con¬ 
tinues healthy. Our loss is small, not exceeding in my* opinion 20 
men killed, but the loss on either side is not accurately known. We 
had two captains killed, one of the artillery and the other of the 
infantry. 

General Taylor has obtained a great victory over General Santa 
Anna, but sustained a loss in killed and wounded of about 700 men. 
The Mexican army appears to be in a very distracted state according 
to rumor. I hope I shall again be allowed the privilege of meeting 
with yourself and family before the lapse of many years, but I can¬ 
not think of it until the close of the present war. 

I wish you to answer this as soon as convenient giving me a 
general history of things in your vicinity. My health is about as 
when I last saw you. Give my respects to each member of your 
family including of course Rachel and James, and remember me to all 
inquiring friends. Tell Uncle Jacob if he is still living that I intend 
writing to him before long and remain assured of my highest regards. 

T. J. Jackson. 

P. S. You will be particular not to allow any part of this or 
any other letter from me to be published. T. J. J. 

Isaac Brake, 

Buckhannon, Va. 

Jackson was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant 
on August 20, for ''gallant and meritorious conduct at the 
siege of Vera Cruz'' and on the same date was further 
advanced to the rank of brevet captain "for gallant and 
meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and Che- 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 71 


rubsco’\ In the events which followed in rapid succes¬ 
sion, Captain McGruder in his official reports writes: *'1 
beg leave to call the attention of the Major-General com¬ 
manding the division to the conduct of (then) Lt. Jackson 
of the First Artillery. If devotion, industry, talent and 
gallantry are the highest qualities of a soldier, then he is 
entitled to the distinction which their possession confers. 
On Sept. 13, 1847 he was commissioned a major (regis¬ 
ter U. S. Army) for “gallant and meritorious conduct in 
the battle of Chapultepec, September 13, 1847’', having in 
less than a year risen to this rank from brevet second 
lieutenant. 

The Harrison Republican, published at Clarksburg, 
states (December 10, 1847) that a letter had been re¬ 
ceived from Lieut. Thomas Jackson, a West Point Grad¬ 
uate from Lewis County, in which it is related that he 
had been favorably noted in reports for his conduct in 
engagements near the capital of Mexico. His residence in 
Mexico was not of any great duration, but during this 
time he managed to learn something of the Spanish lan¬ 
guage and investigated the prevailing religion of that 
country. On March 5, 1848, an armistice was signed and, 
in June, Major Jackson’s command returned to Fort Ham¬ 
ilton, New York, arriving in August. In December of the 
same year he secured a furlough and for a short time 
visited his sister Laura, then residing at Beverly, and rela¬ 
tives in Clarksburg; he spent the Christmas season at 
Jackson’s Mills. Here he found the family circle much 
broken; his Uncle Edward with whom he was a great 
favorite had died in October of the same year, and his 
Aunt Elizabeth (Carpenter), who was then ill, died a 
short time after he left the community. 

Returning to Fort Hamilton in January, 1849, Jack- 
son lived the routine garrison life. Letters extant show 
his great interest and feeling in religious matters. He 
also set himself to the task of further education and had 
in view the possibility of being advanced from a major- 



72 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


ship to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. The following let¬ 
ter to his benefactor Samuel L. Hays, of Weston, is of 
great interest in this connection. 

Fort Hamilton, Long Island, N. Y. 

Feby. 2nd. 1849. 

Dear Sir: 

Having to a great extent recovered my strength, and, I hope, 
my health, I take pleasure in returning you my most sincere thanks 
for your repeated kindness towards me; hoping at the same time, 
that some opportunity may present itself, of discharging my debt 
of gratitude in some other way; though at present, I must admit, 
that I cannot see very clearly in what way I can ever be serviceable 
to you; though should that opportunity never present itself, I well 
know from the interest which you have taken in my welfare that 
you will consider yourself compensated, if I but turn to the best 
advantage the opportunities which your exertions in my behalf, have, 
and may hereafter give me. 

I regret that I could not have had an occasion of conversing a 
moment with you at our last meeting; you might have given me some 
information, which I could not otherwise acquire. 

I believe that the list of brevets is now being made out, and 
from what you intimated to me, and from information received since, 
and the strong grounds on which I have been presented, I have but 
little or no doubt but that I shall be advanced; provided my claims 
should be presented to the Secretary of War; but I am afraid that 
the case may from forgetfulness, not be brought to his consideration 
at this time; as the list is being filled up. 

I would be glad to converse with you; as I know that my con¬ 
versation would be directed to my best friend; but that pleasure I 
must forego for the present. My sense of gratitude for the interest 
which you have taken in my welfare, is easier to be appreciated by 
the heart, than to be expressed by words. 

I purpose with the blessings of Providence to be a hard student, 
and to make myself not only acquainted with Military art and science; 
but with politics, and of course, must be well versed in history. My 
historical studies I have arranged in the following order: first a 
general history, ancient and modern, and then, special histories of 
important events, countries, etc. 

I have commenced with Rollins Ancient History, and have read 
about one-fourth o^ it; reading about forty or fifty pages per day. 

You will please answer this, and remember me to your family, 
those absent as well as at home. 

The gold fever is running quite high here; I have conversed with 
Mr. Loester, an officer of the Army, from the gold mines, and who 
















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FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 73 


brought a quantity of the precious metal with him; the dust consists 
of scales, of which he brought a vial full, holding the value of a 
hundred dollars; and its appearance is that of scales, instead of sand, 
as I had formerly imagined it to be; and he also brought a solid piece 
weighing probably more than an ounce. 

This officer stated to me that the average gathering there was 
about 90 dollars per day, but that everything was extremely high. 
The climate, he says, is charming, the thermometer ranging from 
60 to 70 degrees. 

This post is about ten miles below N. Y. city, and on the east 
bank of the Hudson or North River, and is a delightful station. 

Your sincere friend, 

T. J. Jackson. 

Col. Samuel L. Hays. 

In the fall of 1850 Jackson again secured a furlough 
and returned to western Virginia, spending some time at 
Beverly, Weston and Jackson's Mills. Rejoining his com¬ 
mand by March 1, 1851, he was next at Fort Meade in 
Florida. 

As he had never been at any time a person of robust 
constitution, the swampy air of Florida soon began to 
undermine his health. This caused him to determine to 
seek some other situation, and D. H. Hill, who afterward 
became his brother-in-law, brought his ability to the at¬ 
tention of Colonel Francis H. Smith, Superintendent of 
the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia. 
Smith wrote that he would present his name to the board 
of visitors of the institution as an instructor therein. 
Jackson on February 25, 1851, wrote to Col. Smith, 
‘‘Though strong ties bind me to the army, yet I cannot de¬ 
cline to accept so flattering an offer." John S. Carlisle, 
of Clarksburg, Samuel L. Hays, John Stringer, J. M. 
Bennett and William E. Arnold, of Lewis County, all men 
of great influence in that day, added endorsements; and 
on March 28, 1851, Jackson was appointed to fill the 
chair of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Ar¬ 
tillery. 

Resigning from the Army, to take effect in 1852, he 
spent much of the summer with relatives in western Vir- 




74 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


ginia and a short time at Jackson’s Mills, and with other 
relatives in Lewis County. Sylvanus White, a cousin then 
residing in California but at the time on a visit in the 
community, later wrote to Thomas J. Arnold: 

We stayed over night at the old mill place. There were no 
other whites that night, only the negroes [slaves]. He and I slept 
in the same bed. In talking of Mexico he was telling me of the 
heroism of other officers. I said “I want you to tell me something 
of your own.” He replied “Oh, if I have to blow my own horn, it will 
be a long time before it is blown.” 

Speaking further of the action at Chapultepec, Jack« 
son remarked that 'Tt would have been no disgrace to 
have died there, but to have failed to gain my point it 
would.” 

After visiting several medicinal springs, Jackson re¬ 
ported for duty at the V. M. I., on September 1, 1851. 
Here for ten years he lived the rather monotonous life of 
an instructor. 

Writing to his uncle, Alfred Neale, of Parkersburg, 
in September, 1851, he says in part: 

I have reported at Lexington and am delighted with my duties, 
the place and the people. At present I am with the corps of cadets 
at this place (Warm Springs), where we may remain until the 
company shall leave, which may be some time hence. I recruited 
rapidly at Lake Ontario, where I passed part of July and August. It 
would have given me much pleasure to have visited you during the 
past summer, but I am anxious to devote myself to study until I shall 
become master of my profession. 

John Esten Cooke, member of J. E. B. Stuart’s staff 
and biographer of Jackson, relates that people in Lexing¬ 
ton and especially the students at V. M. I. in his earlier 
years there regarded Jackson with a mingled feeling of 
awe, respect for his absolute subservience to military 
rules, and a belief that he was eccentric. His exploits in 
walking through a pouring rain to repay a small debt; 
and his firm belief in preordination, which some believed 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 75 


later led to the loss of his life, only accentuated this feel¬ 
ing. His biographer and close friend further relates that 
the moment a military drill began, a salute was fired, or, 
later, the roll of battle began, Jackson's very being 
changed and that he was without a doubt the most fear¬ 
less and decisive man that ever wore the uniform of an 
American soldier. 

In August, 1852, Jackson left Lexington for a short 
time and in company with his sister visited relatives in 
Parkersburg. He spent a short time at Mineral Wells, 
where a number of people from Weston were sojourning, 
among them Major Minter Bailey, who had in 1836 em¬ 
ployed him on the surveying of the construction work of 
the Parkersburg and Staunton Pike. Jackson thence pro¬ 
ceeded to Weston for a short stay. 

During his residence in the Valley he made every 
attempt to keep in touch with friends and relatives in 
western Virginia, keeping up a quite active correspon¬ 
dence with the family of his sister Laura, the Whites in 
Lewis and Wood County, and especially with his Uncle 
and Aunt, Alfred and Clementine Neale, residing on 
Neale's Island, above Parkersburg, in the Ohio River. 
The letters of his boyhood to Mrs. Neale seem to have 
been lost, and indeed but a small part of the extensive 
correspondence with this family is extant. The first let¬ 
ter deals with the requirements at the V. M. I. and is as 
follows: 


Virginia Military Institute, 
Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Va., 
January 28, 1854. 

My dear Uncle: 

Though I have not heard from you for many months, yet you 
have not been so long absent from my thoughts. Before leaving you 
I promised to write and let you know what the inducements are for 
sending one of my cousins here to be educated. I am not certain 
that the promise has ever been fulfilled. Certainly if it has not, it 
ought not to be postponed any longer. Should you at any time wish 
to have a son educated at the institute the steps necessary to be 




76 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


taken will be to make application to the Superintendent before the 
annual examination of the cadets, which takes place the latter part 
of June of every year. The letter for the applicant should state that 
the applicant is not less than sixteen, nor more than twenty-five years 
old, that his height is not less than five feet. You should also for¬ 
ward recommendations as to moral character, character of mind, 
extent of education, etc. His health and physical constitution should 
also be good. The regulations require that every person who re¬ 
ceives the appointment of cadet shall read and write well and that 
he shall perform with facility the four ground rules of arithmetic,— 
that is simple and compound proportions, vulgar and decimal frac¬ 
tions and reduction. 

I find that the application should be made on or before the 20th 
of June. 

The expenses will be near three hundred dollars per annum. 

I am much pleased with my duties here. 

It has been rumored that Cousin Harriett Murdock was engaged, 
if so is she yet married? 

We have in this little town been much shocked by the murder of 
a cadet last month. The call court has sent the murderer on to 
further trial, which will take place next April. 

Please remember me kindly to Aunt and the family and to all 
inquiring relatives and friends. If you know anything of Wirt I 
would be glad if you would let me know where he is and what he is 
doing. 

My health is very much improved. During last summer I 
traveled with my wife through the North, visiting Niagara, Que¬ 
bec and other places of interest. 

I have heard Ohio spoken of as being a desirable place for in¬ 
vesting funds and that bank stock and such like declares a dividend 
of ten per cent. Please let me know if such is the case and if so 
how I could manage to invest some funds safely there and whether 
stock is at par or not. Please let me hear from you soon. 

Your much attached nephew, 

T. J. Jackson. 

Mr. Alfred Neale, 

Parkersburg, W. Va. 

During July and August 1855 Jackson made his last 
visit to Weston and the scenes of his boyhood. 

From this section he went to Parkersburg, spending 
a short time with the Neales and the Whites. From his 
letters it is evident that he at this date felt that matters 
were arising between the North and South that would 




FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 77 


later have to be adjusted in some manner. In a discus¬ 
sion of this at Mineral Wells on this visit it is related that 
he said if trouble came: “in that event it may be the duty 
of some of us to stand for some of the things we may not 
implicitly approve. It is inevitably so in a conflict of 
that kind.’' From Parkersburg he journeyed to Point 
Pleasant, and through the Kanawha Valley, visiting the 
place of his mother’s burial in Fayette County. He was 
ever solicitous of the welfare of his half-brother Wirt, 
who became a well-to-do, substantial business man. His 
letters to the Neales which follow are of interest in this 
connection, portraying as they do the depth of Jackson’s 
character. 

Lexington, Va., 

Sept. 4th, 1855. 

My dear Aunt: 

Though I have reached home, yet the pleasures enjoyed under 
your hospitable roof, and in your family circle, have not been dis¬ 
sipated. I stopped to see the Hawk’s Nest, and the gentleman with 
whom I put up was at my mother’s burial, and accompanied me to 
the cemetery for the purpose of pointing out her grave to me; but I 
am not certain that he found it. There was no stone to mark the 
spot. Another gentleman, who had the kindness to go with us, stated 
that a wooden head or foot board with her name on it had been 
put up, but it was no longer there. A depression in the earth only 
marked her resting place. When standing by her grave, I experi¬ 
enced feelings to which I was until then a stranger. I was seeking 
the spot partly for the purpose of erecting something to her precious 
memory. On Saturday last I lost my porte-monnaie, and in it was 
the date of my mother’s birth. Please give me the date in your 
next letter. 

Your affectionate nephew, 

T. J. Jackson. 

Mrs. Alfred Neale, 

Parkersburg, Va. 

Lexington, Va., Oct. 22, 1855. 

My dear Uncle: 

Enclosed is a letter from Wirt. While he has departed from 
our understanding yet if he will thus be enabled to do well I am 
desirous that the money should be furnished him, but in doing so I 
must adhere to the conditions that Cousin Wm. Neale shall before 
paying for the land approve the purchase and receive the deed made 




78 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


out in my name. You will observe that the land is represented as of 
very good quality and yet the price is below the average price. This 
would lead to the inference of a defective title or something wrong. 
I will be obliged to you if you will forward a check on N. York for 
the money which you get from the bank to Cousin Wm. Neale to be 
used by him upon the conditions which I have already mentioned and 
if the owner or person from whom Wirt purchased cannot satisfy 
cousin Wm. in the several particulars that he then retain the money 
until the conditions shall be fulfilled. I shall forward to cousin Wm. 
in about two weeks a check for three hundred and fifty dollars unless 
you shall deem it improper for me to do so. I could not get the check 
here and have sent by a friend to Richmond for it and he will not, 
it is thought, return until about next Saturday week, and if you can 
let me hear from you by that time if it is but a line, I will be much 
obliged to you. 

I hope that Aunt’s health has been restored to at least its usual 
state. Remember me very affectionately to Aunt and to each member 
of the family, and very kindly to all inquiring friends and relatives. 

Your affectionate nephew, 

T. J. Jackson. 

Uncle please return Wirt’s letter to me. 

Mr. Alfred Neale, 

Parkersburg, Va. 


Lexington, Va., Nov. 12, 1855. 

My dear Aunt: 

I am much obliged for your letter of the 31st. ult. 

Tell Uncle that I am much obliged to him for his kindness in 
regard to endorsing for me and all the kindness which he has shown 
me. I would say that though he, (Wirt) purchased land at a higher 
rate per acre than he was authorized to do, yet I desired to confirm 
the purchase, but I never communicated such intention to him, but 
since receiving your letter I have concluded not to do so. But on 
the contrary to keep within the offer and terms which I made to him. 
If he does not desire terms or finds himself unable to accept of such 
terms, then as I told him in Uncle Alfred’s presence, and also in my 
last letter to him, I do not wish him to do so, but barely to remember 
that I made the proposition because he was my brother and that I 
was as favorable to him as I felt and still feel I ought to do. He 
says that he has been offered two hundred dollars for his bargain; 
if he can sell on such terms he will have done well by the purchase 
and sale. 

Ask Uncle to let the money lay in the bank until he shall know 
whether the note is protested and if it should not be protested to then 
forward me a check either on Philadelphia or N. York. 





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FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 79 


I regret to learn that cousin Hardin’s health is so delicate, and 
yet if it were God’s pleasure I feel that I would gladly exchange with 
him the apparent period of dissolution. I look upon death as being 
that moment which of all other earthly ones is most to be desired by 
a child of God. 

Give much love to Uncle and each member of the family and to 
Hardin and when leisure permits please let me hear from you. 

Your much attached nephew, 

T. J. Jackson. 

Mrs. Alfred Neale, 

Parkersburg, Va. 

,, , . , Lexington, Va., Dec. 24, 1855. 

My dear Aunt: 

Your welcome letter came safely on Saturday last and you must 
excuse a brief reply, looking upon it as a business letter rather than 
one which would be most congenial to my feelings and which I hope 
soon to write. I am very thankful to yourself and Uncle for your 
kindness and tell Uncle that if the three hundred dollars will be of 
service to him to retain it and have it ready for me by the 1st of July 
next and to forward the remaining portion to me in the form of a 
check on New York City as soon as it will be convenient for him to 
do so as I am anxious to get funds deposited there as soon as prac¬ 
ticable, as they will thus not only increase, in consequence of interest 
which will accrue, but also I hope to be able to purchase land warrants 
when they shall fall to their lowest prices. Tell Uncle that in the 
event that he is not wanting the three hundred dollars then to for¬ 
ward a check for the whole on New York City. But say to him that 
if it will be any accommodation to him that he must not hesitate a 
moment to retain that sum until next July as I can do without it very 
well, and it would be a pleasure to me thus to be enabled in a small 
degree to requite his kindness to me. 

I have no word from Wirt since I last wrote to you and should 
you hear from him or Cousin Wm. Neale, by the time this reaches you 
and the latter should satisfy Uncle that it would be proper to send 
the check to Cousin Wm. on the conditions of which you both already 
know to be used by Cousin William, then I wish Uncle would please 
have the check made payable to the order of Cousin William and 
forward it to him. But don’t wait for any such letter as ample time 
has already elapsed and I might thus “lay” out of the use of the 
funds any length of time to no purpose. Much love to Uncle and all 
the family, and kindest regards to all inquiring relatives and friends. 
Please let me hear from you soon. 

Your affectionate nephew, 

Mrs. Alfred Neale, Thomas. 

Parkersburg, Va. 




80 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


During the summer and fall of 1856 Major Jackson 
spent some four months in travel abroad. Something of 
the methodical manner in which he visited Europe may 
be gleaned from the following letter to Mrs. Neale, writ¬ 
ten upon his return. 


Lexington, Va., Oct. 27th, 1856. 

My dear Aunt: 

It is with much pleasure that God again permits me to write to 
you from my adopted home. Your kindness and that of Uncle has not 
been forgotten; but when you hear where I have been during my 
short absence, you will not be surprised at not having heard from 
me, as my time was too short to see well all that came within the 
range of my journey. After leaving Liverpool I passed to Chester 
and Eaton Hall, and from there, returning, I visited Glasgow, Lochs 
Lomond and Katrine, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh, York, London, 
Antwerp, Brussels, Waterloo, Aix-la-Chapelle, Cologne, Bonn, Frank¬ 
fort on the Main, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Strasburg, Basle, Lakes 
Lucerne, Brience and Thun; Berne, Freiburg, Geneva, the Mer de 
Glace, over the Alps, by the Simplon Pass; Milan, Venice, Florence, 
Naples, Rome, .Marseilles, Paris, London and Liverpool again, and 

then home.It appeared to me that Providence had opened 

the way for my long-contemplated visit, and I am much gratified at 
having gone. 

Your affectionate nephew, 

T. J. Jackson. 


Lexington, Va., February 16, 1857. 

My dear Aunt: 

Your letter of February 7th reached me on Saturday arriving too 
late to answer it. In regard to Wirt I am unwilling to do anything 
which will favor his going to California. It does appear to me that 
if he goes to California that the gospel may but seldom if ever reach 
him and that the infiuences thrown around him there will be worse 
than where he is. I cannot consent to do anything which I have rea¬ 
son to believe will be detrimental to his morals. If I had the money 
by me the foregoing reasons would influence me, but I have not the 
money at this time, even if I felt disposed to let him have it. I have 
been more pressed for money in the last month or so, than I remem¬ 
ber having been for years. But I expect to have some by the last of 
March, if not by the middle or 20th of March. It has happened 
though that the quarterly pay has not been ready at the expiration 
of the quarter, which in this case ends with March. Then I could 




FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 81 


by inconveniencing myself let Wirt have a hundred dollars, and re¬ 
quire neither principal nor interest. 

I do not approve of assisting a person unless the assistance will 
prove a blessing. To assist him in going to California would in my 
opinion be cursing rather than blessing him. Give my warmest con¬ 
gratulations to Leroy and tell him that I hope that he and his wife 
and my cousin may have many happy returns of the day which com¬ 
memorates their union. 

Much love to Uncle and all the family. Let me hear from you 
soon. 

Your aifectionate nephew, 

Thomas. 

Mrs. Alfred Neale, 

Parkersburg, Virginia. \ 


In politics Jackson was always a Democrat, with 
which party most of his kindred were connected. In this 
connection a great deal of interest was aroused in the 
furtherance of the ambitions of William L.. Jackson, Jr., 
whose career has already been noted under another head. 
On January 22, 1857, he addressed the following letter 
to John E., son of ex-congressman Samuel L. Hays, then 
residing at present Grenville, Gilmer County, West Vir¬ 
ginia. 


My dear Friend: 

Though I have not seen you for years, yet I remember with 
pleasure the companion of my more youthful days, and, trusting that 
I am still remembered by you with interest, I have concluded to write 
you this letter for the purpose of saying that I feel deep interest 
in the election of Wm. L. Jackson to the judgeship of your district, 
and of stating that any assistance which you may give him I will 
regard as a personal favor. 

Wm. has ever shown a deep interest in my success in life, and 
this, combined with family feeling and my personal regard for him, 
induces me to do all in my power to further his success. I have, as 
it were, my hands tied in consequence of my position in the Institute 
so that I cannot mingle with the electors, and my only way of assist¬ 
ing him is by letters to my friends. I am indebted to your father 
more than to any other man for the deep interest he has taken in 
my success, and for the promptness with which he has ever responded 



82 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


to my calls for assistance. Next to him I am under the strongest 
obligations to Wm. 

Please regard this letter as private. 

When you write to your father, I wish you would remember me 
to him very kindly. 

Should you ever pass through this place, you must make my 
house your home. When a leisure moment will permit, I hope you 
will let me hear from you. 

Very truly your friend 

T. J. Jackson. 

The efforts to elect William L. Jackson judge of the 
nineteenth circuit court failed at this time, he being de¬ 
feated by Matthew Edmiston, then occupying that office, 
and who did so continuously from 1852 until the fall of 
1860. In the latter year Judge Jackson again became 
a candidate for this position. Major Jackson, shortly be¬ 
fore the election then, wrote Hon. Jonathan M. Bennett 
of Weston as follows: 


Lexington, Va., April 17, 1860. 

My dear Friend: 

I am anxious to see us possess that influence in our section of 
the state that will enable us to secure any office there by merely nomi¬ 
nating a suitable person, and concentrating our strength upon him, 
and now in my opinion is the time to test our strength by electing 
Wm. L. Jackson to the judgeship. Of course Edmiston’s influence 
will be vigorously exerted to defeat him but it appears to me that 
the united influence of the Jacksons with their relations, connections 
and friends, ought to prevail over Edmiston’s influence even in Lewis 
and Braxton, where I suppose it is strongest. I have been told by a 
member of the old Whig party that W. L. J. is one of the shrewdest 
political managers of his party in the state, and I am in hopes that 
with his influence united to that of his friends we may be able to set 
up for ourselves. All of us who may be looking forward to advance¬ 
ment may expect to have prospects brightened by Jackson’s election 
and diminished by his defeat. Being a professor my hands are tied 
so that I cannot appear in the canvass—all I can do is to write to 
my friends. I would like to take an active part in the canvass if it 
were practicable. You have a strong arm, and I think with it you 
may carry Lewis and Braxton. I have written with that freedom 
which I always desire from you to me. Please say nothing about 
the contents of this, but if you think as I do upon the subject, I hope 




FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 83 


that you will if possible give Lewis and Braxton to Wm. If I can 
be of any service let me know how it can be rendered. I will always 
be glad to hear from you. 

Very truly yours, 

T. J. Jackson. 

In May, 1860, W. L. Jackson was elevated to the 
bench, but his term of office was very short, being closed 
by his enlistment in the Confederate service. He held 
his first term in Lewis County, October 8, 1860, and his 
last orders were entered on May 9, 1861. 

Several important events marked the ten years of 
Jackson’s life at Lexington. His first marriage and the 
loss of his wife; his affiliation with the Presbyterian 
Church; the second marriage and his march with the 
cadets to Charlestown, where John Brown was executed 
on December 2, 1859. Otherwise there was little to in¬ 
terrupt the daily duties as an instructor. During this 
time he once applied for a place on the faculty of the 
University of Virginia, but fate again came into his life 
and held him to a military career. 

Shortly after his return from Charlestown and his 
resumption of his duties as instructor he wrote Mrs. 
Neale: 


Lexington, Va., Jan. 21st, 1861. 

My dear Aunt: 

I am living in my own house, I am thankful to say, as, after 
trying both public and private boarding, I have learned from expe¬ 
rience that true comfort is only to be found in a house under your 
own control. I wish you could pay me a visit during some of your 
leisure intervals, if you ever have such. This is a beautiful country, 
just on the confines of the Virginia Springs, and we are about fourteen 
miles from the Natural Bridge.Viewing things at Wash¬ 

ington from human appearances, I think we have great reason for 
alarm, but my trust is in God; and I cannot think that He will permit 
the madness of men to interfere so materially with the Christian 
labors of this country at home and abroad. 

Your affectionate nephew. 


T. J. Jackson. 




84 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


CHAPTER X 

OPENING OF THE CIVIL WAR. 

In the spring of 1861 the long struggle between the 
two great sections of the United States came to an issue 
of arms. For some years deep observers of events in 
both North and South had felt that such a result was 
inevitable. With the election of Abraham Lincoln to the 
presidency, the Southern States felt that it was time to 
dissolve the Union and form a separate government. 
Some of the border states held back for a time, and Vir¬ 
ginia, especially, refrained from formal acceptance of 
the Confederacy until April, 1861. On April 17, Gov¬ 
ernor John Letcher refused to obey Lincoln’s call for 
troops, and on the same day the Virginia convention re¬ 
pealed the ordinance by which it had adopted the Consti¬ 
tution of the United States and seceded from the Union. 

The Virginia authorities at once set about to organ¬ 
ize such a military force as might be possible. A camp of 
instruction was established at Richmond and it was deter¬ 
mined to use the senior cadets from Virginia Military In¬ 
stitute as “student teachers” in the drilling of volunteers. 
Accordingly the cadets set out from Lexington at one 
o’clock on Sunday, April 21, under command of Major 
Jackson, who laid aside his duties as teacher and left his 
home for the last time. A little more than two years 
afterward all that was mortal of the noted general was 
borne to the little village churchyard of Lexington. 

Like many of the citizens of Virginia, Jackson de¬ 
plored the existence of slavery in the state as an economic 
and social evil, and yet like others he seemed to feel that 
the only method of handling the problem was through 
the legislative halls. Yet the institution to him did not 
appear morally wrong and he is said to have supported 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 85 


some arguments to this effect by statements taken from 
the Bible. When it became evident that war between 
the Southern states and those of the North could not be 
averted, it was to him the cause of great alarm. 

A comprehensive survey of his attitude and belief 
at the time discloses the fact that he deplored the possi¬ 
bility of war, setting forth more than once that the public 
did not understand what war meant. Naturally his ex¬ 
periences in the Mexican War had given him an insight 
into it not possible for laymen. But once the course of 
events seemed to be set directly toward a conflict, his own 
course was soon decided on and his actions circumscribed 
thereby. 

Mary Anna Jackson, his wife, wrote: 

He never was a Secessionist, and maintained that it was better 
for the South to fight for her place in the Union than out of it. 
* * * At this time (March 16, 1861) he was strongly for the 

Union. At the same time he was a firm States rights man. 

With the beginning of preparations for hostilities. 
Governor John Letcher set about the selection of officers 
for the provisional army of Virginia. In this connection 
Major Jackson received his first commission in the organ¬ 
izing army as a major in the engineering corps. Jona¬ 
than M. Bennett, of Weston, later related that during 
April, 1861, he was in one of the hotels at Richmond; 
after eating, he sat down in the lobby to look over one 
of the city papers and, in glancing over the names of the 
officers commissioned, he noticed that Thomas J. Jackson 
had been appointed a major in the engineering corps. He 
immediately repaired to the capitol building, where, in a 
conference with Governor John Letcher, he informed the 
latter of the notice in the public press and, further, that 
he was well aware of Jackson’s ability and that he felt it 
to be a great mistake to place such a man in the engineer¬ 
ing corps. The governor was duly impressed with his 
statement and immediately directed the secretary of the 




86 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


executive war council to transfer Jackson to regular line 
duty, and that a commission as colonel be issued him. 

'‘Who is this Major Jackson, that we are asked to 
commit to him such a responsible post?’' asked a member 
of the war council when informed of Mr. Bennett’s inter¬ 
view with Governor Letcher. “He is one”, replied S. 
Moore, of Rockbridge County, “who, if you order him to 
hold a post, will never leave it alive to be occupied by the 
enemy.” 

Jackson was commissioned colonel of volunteers on 
April 26, 1861, and ordered to Harper’s Ferry. Here he 
spent his energies in shaping the raw volunteers into the 
highly respectable army of the Shenandoah, which he 
turned over to General J. E. Johnston, on May 23. Placed 
in command of the Virginia brigade that became so re¬ 
nowned, he met the advance of General Patterson at Fall¬ 
ing Waters on July 2, checking the advance and captur¬ 
ing a number of prisoners. 

Jonathan M. Bennett, of Weston, was then serving 
as auditor of Virginia and lived in Richmond. He at once 
directed a letter to Jackson proposing that he should be 
made a brigadier-general, to which a reply was made as 
follows from Martinsburg on June 5, in part: 


Headquarters, Va. Forces, 

Harper’s Ferry, June 5, 1861. 

My dear Colonel: 

Your very kind letter, proposing, if I so desire, to make me a 
brigadier-general and send me to the Northwest in command of all 
troops of that region, has been received, and meets my grateful appro¬ 
bation. The sooner it is done the better. Have me ordered at once. 
That country is now bleeding at every pore. I feel a deep interest 
in it and have never appealed to its people in vain, and trust it may 
not be so now. I agree with you fully respecting the advantages 
named in your letter. Remember me kindly to Judge Allen and thank 
him for his kindness. Believe me with lasting gratitude, ever years. 


T. J. Jackson. 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 87 


Harpers Ferry, June 5, 1861. 

My dear Colonel: 

Lest the letter mailed this morning in which I thankfully ac¬ 
cepted the opportunity of being made a Brigadier General and put in 
command of all the North Western Troops should fail to reach you, 

I send this by private hands. Please have me ordered forthwith. 

Very gratefully yours, 

T. J. Jackson. 

Again addressing Mr. Bennett relative to the com¬ 
mission Jackson wrote as follows on June 24: 

Headquarters 1st Brigade, 

Camp Stevens, June 24, 1861. 

My dear Colonel: 

At present I am in command of the Virginia Volunteers organ¬ 
ized into the First Brigade of the Army of the Shenandoah, and have 
my Headquarters on the road from Martinsburg to Williamsport, and 
about four miles distant from the former place. On Saturday last 
the enemy commenced crossing at Williamsport into Virginia and I 
immediately advanced with one regiment of infantry and a battery 
of artillery, but it amounted to nothing, as the enemy recrossed the 
river into Maryland. They are evidently afraid to advance. 

In your last you stated: T presume all commissions will issue 
from the Confederate Government; if so, I have no pledge for any 
commission, but I shall never cease until I get it. You will hear 
from me soon again’. Knowing your success in carrying your meas¬ 
ures, the energy with which you press them, and not having heard 
from you, the thought struck me that there might be some obstacle 
in the way, which, if made known to me, I might be able to remove. 
I am in command of a promising brigade, and I would be greatly 
gratified if you could secure me a brigadier-generalcy, and if I cannot 
be ordered to Northwestern Virginia, of course I would be continued 
in my present command, and as I am so far west, an opportunity 
might soon offer of having me with my command ordered into that 
region. Providence has greatly blessed me in securing good staff 
officers in the quartermaster, commissary and ordnance departments, 
which are so essential to the efficiency of the troops. All are anxious 
for active service. I feel deeply for my own section of the state, 
and would, as a brigadier-general, willingly serve under General 
Garnett in its defence. I know him well. There are three Brigades 
under General Johnson, and a few days since Brigadier-General Bee 
was assigned to the command of one of them, and at any time, so 
far as I know, another may be assigned to the command of mine. 




88 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


unless you can induce President Davis to make the appointment soon 
by my promotion. 

Please let me hear from you when convenient and ever believe 
me your grateful friend, 

T. J. Jackson. 

P. S.—Please direct your answer to Martinsburg, Berkley County. 

In the meantime, however, a commission was issued 
as a brigadier-general on June 17, which after some delay 
was forwarded early in July, together with the following 
characteristic letter from General Lee: 


Richmond 3rd July 1861 

My dear General: 

I have the pleasure of sending you a commission as Brigadier 
General in the Provisional Army; and to feel that you merit it. 
May your advancement increase your usefulness to the state. 


Very truly, 


R. E. Lee. 


In the battle of Bull Run, on July 21, 1861, in which 
the First Brigade—composed of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th 
and 33rd regiments of Virginia volunteers—first attracted 
attention. General G. E. Bee, in rallying his men, ex¬ 
claimed: "‘See, there stands Jackson like a stone wall!” 
He thus applied the name known around the world bet¬ 
ter than the Christian name given at birth. 

Writing from Headquarters First Brigade, Camp 
near Manassas, July 28, 1861, to J. M. Bennett, Jackson 
said in part: 

Through the blessing of Providence, my brigade passed our re¬ 
treating forces, met the thus far victorious enemy, held him in check 
until re-enforcements arrived and finally pierced his center, and thus 
gave a fatal blow. I am more than satisfied with the part performed 
by my brigade during the action. 

You must excuse my not having written this letter in reply to 
yours earlier but a slight wound (a broken finger) requires me to 
keep watching the flies all the time. I received the wound during the 
last charge. * * * 

You will find when my report shall be published, that the First 
Brigade was to our army what the Imperial Guard was to the First 




FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 89 


Napoleon—that through the blessing of God, it met the thus far 
victorious enemy and turned the fortunes of the day. 

Please let me hear from you soon. 

Your much attached friend, 

T. J. Jackson. 

Early in August Jackson again addressed Mr. Ben- 
net as follows: 

My hopes for our section of the State have greatly brightened 
since General Lee has gone there. Something brilliant may be ex¬ 
pected in that region. Should you ever have occasion to ask for a 
brigade from this army for the northwest, I hope mine will be se¬ 
lected. This of course is confidential, as it is my duty to serve 
wherever I may be placed, and I desire to be always where most 
needed. But it is natural for one^s affections to turn to the home of 
his boyhood and family. 

In the meantime part of a company of the 159th 
regiment of Virginia militia had left Weston and the 
scenes of Jackson's boyhood, under the command of Al¬ 
fred H. Jackson, of Weston. He, as has been noted, was 
a son of Captain George Jackson, was born in 1836, and 
had graduated with honors from Washington College at 
Lexington. This command became a part of the 31st 
Virginia regiment. Following its activities in the battle 
of Greenbrier under Brigadier-General R. R. Jackson, the 
following letter was directed to Alfred Jackson: 

Headquarters 1st Brigade 2nd Corps. 

Centerville, Oct. 11, 1861. 

My dear Alfred: 

If agreeable to you please join us at once as a member of my 
staff. Give my kindest regards to Wm. L. Jackson. 

Sincerely yours, 

T. J. Jackson. 

P. S. Should you decline, please answer immediately. 

Alfred Jackson was then appointed by J. P. Benja¬ 
min, acting Secretary of War, as assistant Adjutant Gen¬ 
eral and ordered to report to General T. J. Jackson. 
Judge John W. Brockenbrough later said of him: 




90 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


He filled the duties of this office with entire satisfaction for 
several months. It is a singular proof of the disinterested patriotism 
of young Jackson that he preferred the active and more laborious 
duties of the camp to the rare and envied position of officer on the 
staff of the commander in chief. He accordingly resigned this ap¬ 
pointment and rejoined his old company as a private in the ranks. 

Within a short time he was advanced by successive 
ranks to lieutenant-colonel, a commission had been made 
out as brigadier-general and he seemed on the verge of a 
distinguished military career when he was wounded at 
Cedar Mountain, on August 9, 1862, and died as a result 
in Lexington on August 1, 1863. 

With the resignation of Alfred Jackson, as assistant 
chief of staff, Jackson at once telegraphed Mr. Bennett 
at Richmond, urging him to take the place. The message 
was followed by the following letter: 


Winchester, Va., Feby. 28th, 1862. 

My dear Colonel: 

I telegraphed to you last week that Major Jackson had resigned 
from my staff, and requested you to say whether you would be willing 
to take his place with the rank of Major, but have not heard from 
you. You must not understand from my request that I desire you to 
give up your present position for the sake of coming into the field. 
But Captain Jackson told me that he would not be surprised should 
you decline a re-election. And should you do so, the thought struck 
me that you might desire active service with this Army. The posi¬ 
tion of Adjutant General is one of great labor and requires much 
study and an entire ignoring of personal ease. As it is the chief 
staff position, its head should be an example of military adherence 
to regulations. Please let me hear from you soon and either accept 
or decline. My opinion is that you would make an admirable Adju¬ 
tant General. The letter written to you about Alfred please destroy. 
As you had been instrumental in getting him the position, it was 
proper that you should know the objection to him, apart from the 
request made by me of you in the letter. Alfred expects to bring 
his old company back into service, and I hope that he will secure 
distinction in the line. 

Your most attached friend. 


T. J. Jackson. 




FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 91 


The offer was declined by Mr. Bennett upon the 
ground of age and in the belief that more good for both 
Jackson and the Confederacy could be accomplished by 
his continuing in the executive department. 

It is interesting to observe Jackson’s inflexible atti¬ 
tude toward duty at all times. Especially was this true 
of his requirements of the members of his staff, but at no 
time did he ask them to do more than he would do him¬ 
self. It is related that following the resignation of Alfred 
Jackson he had a forced march in mind, lost his patience 
with the tardiness of the staff in rising, and ordered the 
cook to throw away such a rare luxury as coffee. Before 
leaving he threatened to arrest the whole staff if they did 
not arise immediately. Suffice to say, they did. 

In July, 1862, Jackson wrote his wife concerning her 
brother Joseph G. Morrison, then a captain in the service: 
'Tf you will vouch for Joseph’s being an early riser”, he 
wrote, “I will give him an aideship. I do not want to 
make an appointment on my staff except such as are early 
risers.” The appointment was made, however, and writ¬ 
ing from Charlotte, N. C., on October 25, 1866, to Mrs. 
Annie C. Neale of Parkersburg, the ricipient says in part: 

I had the honor to serve as aid de camp to the general during 
his campaigns in the Valley of Virginia and around Fredericksburg. 
During all my life I do not think I have ever known a more pious 
and conscientious man. 

On October 7, 1861, Jackson was advanced to the 
rank of Major General and was, on November 4, assigned 
to the command of the Valley District. In January, 1862, 
he marched into western Virginia, striking Bath and Rom¬ 
ney. In March he fell back before Banks with his army 
of 35,000 men, who reported him ''in full retreat from the 
Valley”, and started a column across the mountains to 
attack Johnston as he was falling back from Manassas, 
when Jackson suddenly turned, marched eighteen miles 
in one morning, with 2700 men, fought the battle of 




92 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


Kernstown, on March 23, meeting 8000 Federals. The re¬ 
sult, scarcely a victory for either side, caused the recall of 
the column moving on Johnston. Jackson then left the 
community without delay and moved secretly into present 
Highland County, leaving EwelFs division in the Valley to 
watch Banks. Suddenly the Confederacy and the North 
were thrilled by the following dispatch: 


Valley District, May 9, 1862. 


Gen. S. Cooper: God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell 
yesterday. 


T. J. Jackson, 
Major General. 


Strong pressure against Jackson's right brought to his 
defense the 25th and 31st Virginia regiments, the former 
of which included the “Upshur Greys" and the latter com¬ 
panies made up of Lewis, Harrison and Randolph County 
men. The Third (West) Virginia regiment of the Fed¬ 
erals was posted within three hundred feet of the Con¬ 
federates. Former companions and neighbors recognized 
one another and exchanged salutations. Such was the 
“reunion of fate" of men from the scenes of Jackson's 
boyhood. 

The advance of Fremont under Milroy had been de¬ 
feated and driven back. In rapid sequence followed the 
uniting of Jackson's division with that under Ewell at 
Luray, the retirement of Banks' flank at Front Royal, the 
cutting of his retreating column at Middletown, and, on 
May 25, the rout of Banks at Winchester and his retreat 
across the Potomac. 

Jackson was about to follow Banks, when he learned 
that Fremont from the west and Shields from the east 
were marching to form a junction at Strasburg in his rear. 
With one of his rapid marches he reached the point of 
danger in time to defeat the project and protect his troops 
and supplies as they passed up the Valley, having in the 
meantime taken precautions to prevent the junction of 



FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 93 


the Federals. His rear was protected by cavalry under 
the brilliant Ashby, who lost his life near Harrisonburg 
on June 6. 

During the ensuing operation Jackson wrote Mr. 
Bennett as follows: 


Near Mt. Meridian, June 14th, 1862. 

My dear Colonel: 

Your letter respecting your joining me in the event of the fall 
of Richmond came safely to hand; I hope and trust that no hostile 
foot will in the Providence of God ever be permitted to enter our 
honored capital, but should that calamity befall us, I will be very 
glad to have you with us in the field. Colonel Jackson is with me, 
and I hope he will so continue during the remainder of the war, as 
his services are very valuable. 

T. J. Jackson. 

It is not our design to give in detail the account of 
Jackson's notable achievements in the Civil War. They 
have been narrated by many pens. 

On June 7, at Cross Keys, Ewell, acting under direc¬ 
tions of Jackson, met and defeated Fremont, and the next 
day Jackson defeated Shields at Port Republic on the 
opposite side of the river. The Federals then retreated 
down the Valley. In thirty-two days Jackson and his 
‘Toot cavalry" had marched about four hundred miles, 
scarcely a day without some sort of a skirmish; and in so 
doing they had fought five battles, defeated three armies, 
captured twenty pieces of artillery, taken 4,000 prisoners 
and large amounts of stores of all kinds. This in turn had 
cost Jackson some 900 men killed, wounded or missing; 
at no time did he have over 15,000 men with which to 
meet over 60,000 Federals. 

Banks at Strasburg soon began fortfying that point 
against an attack by Jackson, who suddenly appeared 
on McClellan's fiank near Richmond. Following this, he 
participated in the Seven Days' campaign around Rich¬ 
mond, the second Manassas and the Maryland campaign. 




94 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


the capture of Harpers Ferry with 11,000 prisoners in 
September, and the battle of Sharpsburg. 

On October 10, 1862, Jackson was advanced to the 
rank of lieutenant-general and given command of the 
Second Corps, consisting of his old division under W. B. 
Taliaferro, Early’s division, A. P. and D. H. Hill’s divi¬ 
sions, Brown’s Artillery, and numerous light batteries. 
At Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, hofding the ex¬ 
treme right of Lee’s army, Jackson defeated Franklin 
with a great loss to the Federals. After a winter spent in 
training, the troops moved forward to Chancellorsville in 
April, 1863. General Hooker had thrown Sedgwick 
across the river below Fredericksburg and taken position 
himself with the bulk of his army at Chancellorsville, 
where he was strongly fortified. Lee, leaving Early to 
watch Sedgwick, moved up to Hooker’s front, having in 
the meantime sent Jackson with 22,000 men to attack 
Hooker’s flank and rear. The plan was brilliantly exe¬ 
cuted, resulting in the rout of that flank of Hooker’s army. 
Jackson was then preparing to cut off his line of retreat 
and compel Hooker to attack him when, in returning from 
a reconnoisance, his party was taken for the enemy and 
fired on and he was severly wounded. His left arm was 
amputated and other wounds dressed, but pneumonia set 
in and he died near Guinea Station on May 10, 1863. 

Thus came to a close the earthly career of one of the 
most distinguished sons of the upper Monongahela Val¬ 
ley, whose faith in the Omnipotent was so blended with 
his convictions that his cause was just and directed by 
divine power that it was transmitted to his men in actions 
that will live as long as time endures. Lee announced his 
death to the army in General Order 61, as follows: 


Headquarters—Army of Northern Virginia, 

May 11, 1863. 

Gen. Order 61. 

With deep grief the Commanding General announces to 
the army the death of Lieutenant General T. Jackson, who 




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FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 95 


expired on the 10th instant at quarter past three p. m. The 
daring skill of this great soldier by the decree of an all wise 
Providence are now lost to us. But while we mourn his death, 
we feel that his spirit still lives and will inspire the whole 
army with his indomitable courage and unshaken confidence 
in God as our hope and strength. Let his name be a watch¬ 
word to his corps, who have followed him to victory on so 
many fields. Let his officers and soldiers emulate his invin¬ 
cible determination to do everything in the defense of our 
loved country. 

R. E. Lee. 

Thus did the beloved commander of the Confederate 
army speak of the passing of him whom he has figura¬ 
tively designated as his “right arm'' in the struggle of the 
Lost Cause. Within a few days all that was mortal of 
“Stonewall" Jackson was laid to rest in the little ceme¬ 
tery at Lexington, Virginia. 

When the news of Jackson's death reached western 
Virginia, it came into a region where his youth and young 
manhood stood in high relief in the minds of all people. 
Among them were kinsmen who had espoused the cause 
of the Union and those who favored the Confederacy. 
The star of this young soldier of western Virginia had 
burst upon the world in a meteoric career only to be cut 
short by the hand of death. All alike paid him the 
respect due a gallant and worthy American. The Wheel¬ 
ing Intelligencer, the leading journal of this region at that 
time, on May 16, 1863, said: 

The incidents which are told of this able and daring leader 
would fill volumes. They all hinge upon the sincerity of his zeal, his 
personal bravery, his dash and courage in military operations and 
the remarkable influence over his men. 

Sixty-odd years have now elapsed since the death of 
Jackson and in the intervening time a study of his life 
and characteristics have but accentuated its appeal to the 
American people. We have long ago passed from be- 




96 FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON 


neath the passions engendered by the war and can set 
in a just light the men produced on both sides. 

Jackson died before he was forty, but in that brief 
time he sprang from an almost unknown but unusual boy 
of the hills of western Virginia to be a national and inter¬ 
national figure. His record of fighting under the Stars 
and Stripes in Mexico and his conscientious course under 
the Stars and Bars cannot be effaced. No stain of insin¬ 
cerity, no vaingloriousness smirched a character combin¬ 
ing gentleman, soldier and Christian. 

Silence! ground arms!—kneel all!—caps off! 

Old Blue-light’s going to pray; 

Strangle the fool that dares to scoff! 

Attention! ’tis his way. 

Appealing from his native sod 
In forma pauperis to God; 

Lay bare Thine arm—stretch forth Thy rod— 

Amen!—That’s Stonewall’s way. 






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